Evelina

by Frances Burney

Overview

First published in 1778, this novel of manners tells the story of Evelina, a young woman raised in rural obscurity who is thrust into London's fashionable society at the age of eighteen. There, she experiences a sequence of humorous events at balls, theatres, and gardens that teach her how quickly she must learn to navigate social snobbery and veiled aggression. Evelina, the embodiment of the feminine ideal for her time, undergoes numerous trials and grows in confidence with her abilities and perspicacity. As an innocent young woman, she deals with embarrassing relations, being beautiful in an image-conscious world, and falling in love with the wonderfully eligible Lord Orville. Burney gives the heroine a surprisingly shrewd opinion of fashionable London. This work, then, is not only satirical concerning the consumerism of this select group, but also aware of the role of women in late-eighteenth century society, paving the way for writers such as Jane Austen in this comic, touching love story.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781596740976
Publisher:	Digireads.com Publishing
Publication date:	01/01/2011
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Sales rank:	567,882
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Frances Burney (1752–1840) was born in England to music historian and composer Charles Burney. Educated at home, she began reading and writing at age 10. She loved to compose letters and keep journals, which would be integral to her future career. In 1778, Burney anonymously published her first novel, Evelina, which was a sweeping success. When her identity was revealed, she formally entered literary society producing Cecilia in 1782 and Camilla in 1796. She wrote a total of four novels, eight plays and more than 20 volumes of letters and journals throughout her life.

Table of Contents

About the Series
About This Volume
List of Illustrations

PART ONE: EVELINA: THE COMPLETE TEXT

Introduction: Cultural and Historical Background

Chronology of Burney's Life and Times

A Note on the Text

Evelina, or, The History of a Young Lady's Entrance into the World [First Edition, January 1778]

PART TWO: EVELINA: CULTURAL CONTEXTS

1. The Young Lady
For the Young Lady
James Fordyce, "On the Importance of the Female Sex"
Thomas Gisborne, "On the Mode of Introducing Young Women into General Society"
Thomas Gisborne, "On the Employment of Time"
By the Young Lady
Frances Burney, An Unwanted Proposal of Marriage
Frances Burney, Directions for Coughing and Sneezing before the King and Queen

2. The Fashionable World
Making Fashion
Richard Campbell, From The London Tradesman
Joseph Addison, On the Royal Exchange (The Spectator, No. 69)
Joseph Addison, The Influence of French Fashions (The Spectator, No. 45)
Oliver Goldsmith, On London Shops (From The Citizen of the World)
Henry Fielding, People of Fashion (From The Covent-Garden Journal)
Placing Fashion
Joseph Addison and Richard Steele, On the London Theatre, (From The Spectator, Nos. 240, 245, and 502)
Anonymous, From A Sketch of the Spring-Gardens, Vaux-hall
Oliver Goldsmith, On a Visit to Vauxhall Gardens (From The Citizen of the World)
Tobias Smollett, On a Visit to Bath (From Humphry Clinker)
Christopher Anstey, From The New Bath Guide

3. Beyond the Fashionable World
Visitors to London
César de Saussure, From A Foreign View of England in the Reigns of George I and George II
W. de Archenholtz, From A Picture of England
Carl Phillip Moritz, From Travels, Chiefly on Foot, Through Several Parts of England, in 1782
Thomas Campbell, From Dr. Campbell's Diary of a Visit to England in 1775
Seafaring Men
James Anthony Gardner, Voyages of a Seaman
Edward Boscawen, Waging War against France
Thomas Pasley, A Voyage to the Cape of Good Hope
Olaudah Equiano, Serving with the English Navy

Selected Bibliography