The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia is a philosophical tale by Samuel Johnson published in 1759. A young prince escapes from the Happy Valley, where every pleasure is provided, to discover what can make life truly happy. Through his travels, Johnson explores the limits of human hopes.
The Happy Valley
Rasselas lives in a secluded valley where the royal children are kept in comfort until they inherit the throne. He grows restless and longs to see the world.
With his sister Nekayah, her maid Pekuah and the wise poet Imlac, he escapes through a passage in the mountains.
The choice of life
In Egypt, the travellers observe hermits, philosophers, shepherds, princes and families, asking each what makes them happy.
Each answer disappoints. The book suggests that no condition of life can fully satisfy human desires.
A conclusion in which nothing is concluded
The last chapter bears exactly this title: the travellers decide to return to Abyssinia, without having found an answer.
Rasselas is often compared to Voltaire's Candide, published the same year, which treats a similar question with more mockery.
Anecdotes
Written in a week
Johnson wrote Rasselas in the evenings of a single week, to pay for his mother's funeral and her debts. It was published a few months after her death.
Imlac on poetry
Chapter ten, in which the poet Imlac explains what a poet should know, is often read as a statement of Johnson's own views on literature.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Rasselas?
A prince of Abyssinia who leaves the Happy Valley.
When was the book published?
In 1759.
Which French tale appeared the same year?
Voltaire's Candide.