An Apology for the Life of Mrs. Shamela Andrews

Description

Initially published in April 1741, An Apology for the Life of Mrs. Shamela Andrews (commonly known simply as Shamela) is a satirical burlesque typical of the style and approach of its author, Henry Fielding (1707 – 1754). The novella was actually written under one of Fielding’s aliases, Mr. Conny Keyber, and Fielding never admitted to the work as being his own.

The book itself is a parody building a comprehensive anti-plot of the story in Samuel Richardson’s Pamela. In Fielding’s book satire and a more cynical viewpoint take hold, as the truth is revealed about Pamela actually being “Shamela” – her real name in Fielding’s novel – a former prostitute who goes to great lengths in order to act as a respectable, humble and chaste servant girl, yet manipulates her master, Squire Booby. Her goal is to get him to marry her for her own personal goals and satisfaction.

The surprising humor and remarkable complexity of the satire will be a welcome surprise for anyone who would expect just a boring old book. Fielding proves that his ability to bring some of his most fascinating characters to life is quite timeless, and can still be appreciated in the modern world almost three centuries after he wrote the book.

Fielding systematically begins dismantling the moral hypocrisy he saw in the original novel, and magnifies many of the character’s flaws to make Pamela’s counterpart from his own novel, Shamela, more believable and far less noble and dramatic.


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