Clarissa Oakes nee Harville

Clarissa Oakes is the titular character of the novel, which was originally published under title of CLARISSA OAKES and reprinted in the United States as THE TRUELOVE. By any standard, Clarissa is the dominant character in the novel, eclipsing even the series protagonists Aubrey and Maturin. Clarissa's lengthy history is recounted at considerable length throughout the novel, though it is chiefly presented in a series of monologues Clarissa delivers to Maturin during moments of relative solitude; most of the information is presented in the latter half of the novel.

Clarissa is probably born c. 1787 in England; she becomes an orphan early in life and is sent to live with her guardian, a distant relative she refers to as Cousin Edward. Another young girl is living at the same estate. As Clarissa matures, the much older Cousin Edward engages her in a series of "night games...