His authorial reputation is based on three principal works. Pamela or Virtue Rewarded was published in four volumes during 1741-42. Next came Clarissa or History of a Young Lady contained in seven volumes issued during 1747-48. Thirdly Sir Charles Grandison appeared in 1753-54. His texts were preoccupied with promoting the principles of virtue and religion.
Perhaps lesser known is that Richardson served as a printer throughout his life and attached great importance to the activity. Writing in 1753 he insisted ‘My Business [printing]... has ever been my chief concern. My writing-time has been at such times
of Leisure’.
He began an apprenticeship with John Wilde in 1706 in the area of Fleet Street. His employer printed mainly almanacs
and jest books and had a reputation for parsimony. Richardson emerged from servitude in 1713 and became a Freeman
of the Stationers’ Company two years later, but continued to work for Wilde as a compositor and corrector. He married Wilde’s daughter Martha in 1721. It was an event elevating the influence of Richardson in the running of the business. Martha died
in 1731.
Two years later Richardson married Elizabeth Leake, the daughter of another printer, spreading his involvement to a couple of printing operations. Around 1754 the writer became First Warden and then Master of the Stationers’ Company. He died, following a stroke, in 1761.
Lawrence Wallis has held international pre-press marketing positions and is now a respected author and print historian.
A novel appreciation of printing
Samuel Richardson (1689-1761) has been described as a founder of the modern novel. Many other critics have been similarly complimentary about a man with a serious and grave demeanour. His epistolic style of writing suggested realism at a time when fictional literature tended to be denigrated.
