The epistolary novel is a kind of fiction in which the characters exchange letters, diaries, or other personal records over the course of the plot. The inclusion of epistolary novels in English literature has a long history, with some of the most well-known examples appearing as early as the 18th century. Samuel Richardson’s “Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded,” which was published in 1740, is one of the first and most well-known examples of the epistolary novel in English literature. In the novel, a young maid named Pamela fights against her employer’s advances and ultimately marries him. The entire novel is written in the form of letters between the characters.