The Virgin in Eden: Or, the State of Innocency
Author: Charles Povey
Date: Nov. 23rd,1741
Full Text
This work never became a commercial success like some of the other Antipamelas, and although it has not received much critical attention- it is still worthy of notice. Povey himself and his rather extreme reaction to Pamela, set this work apart. He was an astounding ninety years old when he wrote The Virgin in Eden. After an introduction condemning Pamela as borderline pornographic- much like Pamela Censured, Povey provides readers with his own story about the kind of virtuous virgin young people should be learning from. The text is deeply religious, this is a possible reason for its failure in the literary market.The disgust with Richardson is rooted in an old religious zeal that was no longer present in British society by the end of his life in 1741.
However moral this book claims to be, it is important to note how mindful it remains of employing all possible marketing agenda. The introductory pages mocked Richardson's vanity while simultaneously hinting at their own by promising to be a necessity in every household. It was relatively ornate and published with high hopes- Povey's house was cluttered with unsold copies for years even following an attempted second edition.
Date: Nov. 23rd,1741
Full Text
This work never became a commercial success like some of the other Antipamelas, and although it has not received much critical attention- it is still worthy of notice. Povey himself and his rather extreme reaction to Pamela, set this work apart. He was an astounding ninety years old when he wrote The Virgin in Eden. After an introduction condemning Pamela as borderline pornographic- much like Pamela Censured, Povey provides readers with his own story about the kind of virtuous virgin young people should be learning from. The text is deeply religious, this is a possible reason for its failure in the literary market.The disgust with Richardson is rooted in an old religious zeal that was no longer present in British society by the end of his life in 1741.
However moral this book claims to be, it is important to note how mindful it remains of employing all possible marketing agenda. The introductory pages mocked Richardson's vanity while simultaneously hinting at their own by promising to be a necessity in every household. It was relatively ornate and published with high hopes- Povey's house was cluttered with unsold copies for years even following an attempted second edition.