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The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia - Definition |
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The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia, often abbreviated to Rasselas, is a short story by Samuel Johnson, which he wrote in 1759 to help pay for his mother's funeral.
Johnson was influenced by the vogue for exotic locations. He had read A Voyage to Abyssinia by Jerome Lobo and used it as the basis for what was described as a "philosophical romance".
The plot concerns Rasselas, son of the King of Abissinia [sic] (modern day Ethiopia), who leaves his home in company with his sister, Nekayah, and a philosopher, Imlac, to seek adventure. His observation of other kinds of people eventually leads to the conclusion that there is no easy path to happiness, and he returns to Abissinia along with his companions.
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