I was fortunate enough to see a blog mention this little gem. First published in 1778, this classic is a delightful romance set in 18th century England. First published anonymously, it was an immediate success and was the first of the novels written by Fanny Burney (later Madame D’Arblay).
Basically a love story constrained by the social mores of the time, it will have you avidly reading - occasionally sighing at the longing and love story between Evelina and Lord Orville, sometimes frustrated by Evelina’s inability to extricate herself from some people and situations, wincing at poor Evelina's discomfort, and even laughing out loud to the Captain’s tricks.
Written as a series of letters, the story follows the introduction into society of Evelina, unrecognized daughter of Sir John Belmont and his deceased first wife. Brought up in the country by Rev. Villers, who was both the tutor of her grandfather, Mr Evelyn, and guardian of her mother, Carolyn, Evelina at the tender age of 17 is sent for a visit to Lady Howard at Howard Grove. Lady Howard’s daughter, Mrs Mirvan then takes her daughter Maria and Evelina with her to London to await the return of her husband from sea, Captain Mirvan. Thence really begins Evelina’s awakening!
Evelina’s visit to London and exposure to society is both awe inspiring and confusing for the innocent girl and she makes the first of many social faux pas as we are introduced to the social moirés of 18th century England.
Twists and turns, confusion and false identities abound and it is a surprisingly hard book to put down!
Although it predates her, any lovers of Jane Austen will definitely enjoy this satirical look at the fashionable society of the day. Highly recommended!!
6 comments:
why do we all love Jane Austen look-alike books? and never get tired of that old atmosphere...
I think we just love romance! Timeless :D
Regretably, I Am reading this novel for the third time and Evelina's pathetic stupidity continues to astound me. I swear, if she faints one more time... thank goodness for the captain eh?
Oh dear Matthew - I certainly liked it at a first read, but yes I can see that Evelina could be frustrating when you know what is going to happen again (and again!). The Captain certainly is needed to balance it all out :) Why are you reading it for a third time?
What on earth!,is she going to faint every time she Feels Something?I think Evelina as the so chewed "innocent,witty,&virgin' bonnie
goddess.Actually she could be the main protagonist in a Porn Movie.
Haters, please, don't be so harsh on Evelina, and stop trying to put her in our century. This is hyperbole, and Burney is known and adored for amplifying character traits. It's the first novel (epistolary novel, anyhow) written by a young lady exploring an infant genre. Evelina wasn't just a character; she was a representative of how little even an intelligent woman could exert any control over her life, yet she alone was held accountable for any stain on her virtue, however little she welcomed it. Pretty impressive for the 1770s. Because of its presentation (and yes, in no small part owing to the humor associated with these absurdities as well as the protagonist's adherence to cultural norms--even fainting), it was embraced by a society that in general held novels in disdain. And surely it's general knowledge for readers of this sort of genre that the corsets worn (much more restrictive than those Jane Austen's characters were wearing) reduced the tidal volume of the lungs to an extent that oxygen deprivation could easily occur with little exertion or distress and thus fainting was really quite commonplace. (Maybe you'd never heard of "tidal" volume, but odds are you knew the rest.)
If you are looking for more complex characters, try Cecilia. The protagonists in the second Burney novel engage in serious reflection, decision-making, and sacrifice. If you're a good person who has compunctions about betraying a friend, even for the sake of your own happiness, you'll relate. If you can't be open-minded about the notion that people struggled with the challenges posed by societal norms that are now obsolete, then maybe go for something trendier.
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