
Rasselas PRINCE OF ABYSSINIA
INTRODUCTION.
CHAPTER I DESCRIPTION OF A PALACE IN A VALLEY.
CHAPTER II THE DISCONTENT OF RASSELAS IN THE HAPPY VALLEY.
CHAPTER III THE WANTS OF HIM THAT WANTS NOTHING.
CHAPTER IV THE PRINCE CONTINUES TO GRIEVE AND MUSE.
CHAPTER V THE PRINCE MEDITATES HIS ESCAPE.
CHAPTER VI A DISSERTATION ON THE ART OF FLYING.
CHAPTER VII THE PRINCE FINDS A MAN OF LEARNING.
CHAPTER VIII THE HISTORY OF IMLAC.
In a secluded oasis of perpetual contentment, a young prince named Rasselas watches the world beyond his garden walls with restless curiosity. Though surrounded by beauty and comfort, he feels a growing sense that happiness cannot be measured only by ease, and he decides to leave the valley in search of a deeper answer. Accompanied by his sister and a trusted guide, he steps into the bustling streets of Abyssinia, where every encounter promises a new perspective on desire, duty, and destiny.
Their journey takes them to courts of scholars, humble villages, and distant monasteries, each offering a different model of a fulfilled life. As Rasselas listens to the debates of philosophers and the simple joys of ordinary people, he confronts the timeless question of whether true contentment lies in ambition, service, or acceptance. The tale unfolds as a gentle meditation, inviting listeners to explore their own ideas of purpose while sharing the charm of an 18th‑century adventure.
Language
en
Duration
~3 hours (217K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
Sep 1, 1996
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1709–1784
A towering figure of 18th-century English literature, this sharp-witted writer helped shape how the English language was read, judged, and defined. Best known for his great dictionary and his lively essays, he still feels startlingly modern in his curiosity, humor, and moral seriousness.
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