Clarissa’s Accounts: Ephemeral History and the Eighteenth-Century Memorandum Book.

The article delves into the importance of memorandum books in Samuel Richardson's novel Clarissa, focusing on the protagonist's meticulous record-keeping for managing time and virtuous behavior. It explores how journal-keeping was viewed as a tool for self-improvement in the 18th century, drawing pa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Eighteenth Century: Theory & Interpretation Vol. 64; no. 1/2; pp. 1 - 21
Main Author: Yingst, Carlisle
Format: Article
Published: University of Pennsylvania Press Spring/Summer2023
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Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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Summary:The article delves into the importance of memorandum books in Samuel Richardson's novel Clarissa, focusing on the protagonist's meticulous record-keeping for managing time and virtuous behavior. It explores how journal-keeping was viewed as a tool for self-improvement in the 18th century, drawing parallels between Clarissa's accounts and contemporary guides on time management and morality. The text also discusses the broader cultural context of memorandum books in the 18th century, emphasizing their role in documenting daily events and individual histories, despite their low status and satirical portrayals. Ultimately, it reflects on the significance of preserving ephemeral records as a means of capturing history and memory.