Rasselas

Samuel Johnson

The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia, originally titled The Prince of Abissinia: A Tale, though often abbreviated to Rasselas, is an apologue about bliss and ignorance by Samuel Johnson. The book's original working title was "The Choice of Life". The book was first published in April 1759 in England.

Table of contents

• 1. Description Of A Palace In A Valley
• 2. The Discontent Of Rasselas In The Happy Valley
• 3. The Wants Of Him That Wants Nothing
• 4. The Prince Continues To Grieve And Muse
• 5. The Prince Meditates His Escape
• 6. A Dissertation On The Art Of Flying
• 7. The Prince Finds A Man Of Learning
• 8. The History Of Imlac
• 9. The History Of Imlac (Continued)
• 10. Imlac's History (Continued)—A Dissertation Upon Poetry
• 11. Imlac's Narrative (Continued)—A Hint Of Pilgrimage
• 12. The Story Of Imlac (Continued)
• 13. Rasselas Discovers The Means Of Escape
• 14. Rasselas And Imlac Receive An Unexpected Visit
• 15. The Prince And Princess Leave The Valley, And See Many Wonders
• 16. They Enter Cairo, And Find Every Man Happy
• 17. The Prince Associates With Young Men Of Spirit And Gaiety
• 18. The Prince Finds A Wise And Happy Man
• 19. A Glimpse Of Pastoral Life
• 20. The Danger Of Prosperity
• 21. The Happiness Of Solitude—The Hermit's History
• 22. The Happiness Of A Life Led According To Nature
• 23. The Prince And His Sister Divide Between Them The Work Of Observation
• 24. The Prince Examines The Happiness Of High Stations
• 25. The Princess Pursues Her Inquiry With More Diligence Than Success
• 26. The Princess Continues Her Remarks Upon Private Life
• 27. Disquisition Upon Greatness
• 28. Rasselas And Nekayah Continue Their Conversation
• 29. The Debate On Marriage (Continued)
• 30. Imlac Enters, And Changes The Conversation
• 31. They Visit The Pyramids
• 32. They Enter The Pyramid
• 33. The Princess Meets With An Unexpected Misfortune
• 34. They Return To Cairo Without Pekuah
• 35. The Princess Languishes For Want Of Pekuah
• 36. Pekuah Is Still Remembered. The Progress Of Sorrow
• 37. The Princess Hears News Of Pekuah
• 38. The Adventures Of Lady Pekuah
• 39. The Adventures Of Pekuah (Continued)
• 40. The History Of A Man Of Learning
• 41. The Astronomer Discovers The Cause Of His Uneasiness
• 42. The Opinion Of The Astronomer Is Explained And Justified
• 43. The Astronomer Leaves Imlac His Directions
• 44. The Dangerous Prevalence Of Imagination
• 45. They Discourse With An Old Man
• 46. The Princess And Pekuah Visit The Astronomer
• 47. The Prince Enters, And Brings A New Topic
• 48. Imlac Discourses On The Nature Of The Soul
• 49. The Conclusion, In Which Nothing Is Concluded