The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia

The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia  (1759)  by Samuel Johnson

The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia, often abbreviated to Rasselas, is a 1759 novella by Samuel Johnson. In it, Rasselas 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.

1. I: Description of a Palace in a Valley
2. II: The Discontent of Rasselas in the Happy Valley
3. III: The Wants of Him that Wants Nothing
4. IV: The Prince Continues to Grieve and Muse
5. V: The Prince Meditates His Escape
6. VI: A Dissertation on the Art of Flying
7. VII: The Prince Finds a Man of Learning
8. VIII: The History of Imlac
9. IX: The History of Imlac (continued)
10. X: Imlac's History (continued)—A Dissertation upon Poetry
11. XI: Imlac's Narrative (continued)—A Hint of Pilgrimage
12. XII: The Story of Imlac (continued)
13. XIII: Rasselas Discovers the Means of Escape
14. XIV: Rasselas and Imlac Receive an Unexpected Visit
15. XV: The Prince and Princess Leave the Valley, and See Many Wonders
16. XVI: They Enter Cairo, and Find Every Man Happy
17. XVII: The Prince Associates with Young Men of Spirit and Gaiety
18. XVIII: The Prince Finds a Wise and Happy Man
19. XIX: A Glimpse of Pastoral Life
20. XX: The Danger of Prosperity
21. XXI: The Happiness of Solitude—The Hermit's History
22. XXII: The Happiness of a Life Led According to Nature
23. XXIII: The Prince and His Sister Divide between Them the Work of Observation
24. XXIV: The Prince Examines the Happiness of High Stations
25. XXV: The Princess Pursues Her Inquiry with More Diligence than Success
26. XXVI: The Princess Continues Her Remarks upon Private Life
27. XXVII: Disquisition upon Greatness
28. XXVIII: Rasselas and Nekayah Continue Their Observation
29. XXIX: The Debate on Marriage (continued)
30. XXX: Imlac Enters, and Changes the Conversation
31. XXXI: They Visit the Pyramids
32. XXXII: They Enter the Pyramid
33. XXXIII: The Princess Meets with an Unexpected Misfortune
34. XXXIV: They Return to Cairo without Pekuah
35. XXXV: The Princess Languishes for Want of Pekuah
36. XXXVI: Pekuah Is Still Remembered. The Progress of Sorrow
37. XXXVII: The Princess Hears News of Pekuah
38. XXXVIII: The Adventures of Lady Pekuah
39. XXXIX: The Adventures of Pekuah (continued)
40. XL: The History of a Man of Learning
41. XLI: The Astronomer Discovers the Cause of His Uneasiness
42. XLII: The Opinion of the Astronomer Is Explained and Justified
43. XLIII: The Astronomer Leaves Imlac His Directions
44. XLIV: The Dangerous Prevalence of Imagination
45. XLV: They Discourse with an Old Man
46. XLVI: The Princess and Pekuah Visit the Astronomer
47. XLVII: The Prince Enters, and Brings a New Topic
48. XLVIII: Imlac Discourses on the Nature of the Soul
49. XLIX: The Conclusion, in Which Nothing Is Concluded