runningstitch t1_j7v8lcc wrote on February 9, 2023 at 5:29 PM

Reply to comment by creaturecomforts13 in Why do some books blank out arbitrary place names? by PangeanPrawn

The newly literate female reader is also why so many early novels are moralistic in nature. Richardson couldn't help but jump at the chance to warn women against... well, having a thought of their own.

Bubble_James_Bubble t1_j7vg6l0 wrote on February 9, 2023 at 6:16 PM

Once they start thinkin, well by God they're going to want rights

cliff_smiff t1_j7vgzhy wrote on February 9, 2023 at 6:21 PM

Whose going to want rights?

Complex_Dragonfly_59 t1_j7vjom2 wrote on February 9, 2023 at 6:38 PM

Absolutely! Interestingly, there are many female novelists prior to Richardson (Eliza Haywood is perhaps the best known example ) who wrote much racier, less “moral” work, which was very popular with readers of all genders. Richardson is reacting to an already well-established genre of “romances.”