Another famous literary resident Fleet Street was Samuel Richardson an author who also had a printing establishment here where Oliver Goldsmith (Vicar of Wakefield & She Stoops to Conquer) read proofs.  Richardson’s novel, “Pamela (or Virtue Rewarded)” is considered the first real English novel and was a best seller at the time, going into 5 printings.  If they had had them it would have been the Water Cooler conversation topic of it’s day – as much discussed as 50 Shades of Grey.  Pamela had a huge influence on the way women were portrayed in novels for years to come – be good and you’ll get your reward – a husband!!  12 paintings of scenes from the novel where painted by Joseph Highmore (you can see 4 in Tate Britain) were a bit like the first graphic novel – proving there really is nothing new under the sun.

 

Jill’s walk “Print and the Press: Exploring Fleet Street” is on 13th and 20th October, both starting at 11am – you can get tickets here: