Section 9: Shamela Summary

Fielding's parody of Samuel Richardson's "Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded" begins with a note to Miss Fanny from Conny Keyber in which he dedicates the "Life of Shamela" to a young lady whose wit and beauty are a proper comparison to the heroine. The editor writes himself that this book will go through many editions and be translated into all languages. Joseph Puff writes the editor to praise the writer of "Shamela." As the novel begins, Parson Tickletext writes Parson Oliver with a copy of "Pamela", praising the message of morality and chastity intended for young ladies. Parson Oliver replies that he knows Pamela's true story and she enjoys a reward not deserved as the narrative is a perversion of the truth. Her real name is Shamela, and her parents are not noble. The rest of her history appears in the following...