Clarissa, Poetry and Morals by Christina Van Heyningen

Clarissa, Poetry and Morals by Christina Van Heyningen is a scholarly literary study published by the University of Natal Press in 1963. Originally presented as a dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Literature at the University of Natal, this work offers an in-depth examination of Samuel Richardson’s monumental eighteenth-century novel Clarissa, exploring its moral philosophy, literary structure, and poetic dimensions.

Van Heyningen’s study reflects the rigorous academic scholarship of the period and provides valuable insights into the ethical concerns, narrative techniques, and cultural significance of one of English literature’s most important novels. Clarissa, Poetry and Morals places Richardson’s work within broader literary and moral traditions, making it of interest to researchers, students, collectors of literary criticism, and readers with an appreciation for eighteenth-century literature.

Published in Pietermaritzburg by the respected University of Natal Press, this title also holds significance as an example of South African academic publishing during the mid-twentieth century. Scarce in the trade, it represents a niche but desirable acquisition for collectors of South African university press publications, literary scholarship, and Richardson studies.

The volume remains a useful reference for those interested in literary theory, moral philosophy in fiction, and the enduring influence of Clarissa on the English literary canon. A noteworthy addition to collections focusing on literary criticism, South African academic works, or the history of English literature.

Condition – Good

1963 hardcover. Spine faded with foxing-like spotting to the cloth boards. The dust jacket is present inside the book but lacks the front flap and shows wear. Internally clean and sound with a prior ownership inscription in ink on the front endpaper. Binding remains firm.