Books by Frances Burney

EVELINA TELLS THE STORY OF A YOUNG GIRL, FRESH FROM THE PROVINCES, WHOSE INITIATION INTO THE WAYS OF THE WORLD IS FREQUENTLY PAINFUL, THOUGH IT LEADS TO SELF-DISCOVERY, MORAL GROWTH, AND FINALLY, HAPPINESS. THIS NOVEL REVEALS SUPERBLY THE LIFE AND TEMPER OF EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY ENGLAND, AS SEEN THROUGH THE CURIOSITY OF IT YOUNG HEROINE.

Camilla; Or, A Picture of Youth (1796) is a novel by Frances Burney. Both satirical and serious, comedic and Gothic, Burney's novel helped establish her reputation as one of the most popular writers of eighteenth-century England. Referred to in Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey (1803) and Maria Edgeworth's Belinda (1801), Camilla; Or, A Picture of Youth was a popular and critically acclaimed novel that served as inspiration for some of the leading literary figures of the early nineteenth century. After years of silence, Mr. Augustus Tyrold moves to the rural estate of Cleves to be near his brother Sir Hugh, who lives at a local parsonage. Lonely and crippled, Sir Hugh hopes to act as a mentor to his nieces and nephews. He takes a liking to Camilla, the middle daughter, and endeavors to make her his heiress while raising her in his own household. Although initially cautious, Mr. and Mrs. Tyrold eventually send Camilla to live at Sir Hugh's home, where her uncle decides to host her tenth birthday party. When a lapse in judgement leads to Camilla's younger sister contracting smallpox, Sir Hugh attempts to remedy the situation by naming Eugenia his heiress instead. Living with her uncle, Eugenia enjoys an unusually thorough education under the tutelage of Dr. Orkbourne, a classical scholar who quickly takes to the enthusiastic and intelligent young girl. Meanwhile, Camilla becomes entangled in a love triangle involving her father's ward Edgar and her cousin Indiana. Despite the mutual affection between Edgar and Camilla, Indiana has entertained the thought of marrying the handsome, wealthy man from a young age, when Sir Hugh thought it prudent to predict their future marriage. As Sir Hugh's plans for the Tyrold youths meet increasingly serious obstacles, and as debts threaten the wellbeing of the entire family, Camilla is forced to navigate a world in which decisions seem always to be made in her interest by those with their own in mind. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Frances Burney's Camilla; Or, A Picture of Youth is a classic of English literature reimagined for modern readers.

In Evelina or the History of a Young Lady¿s Entrance into the World, the title character leaves her isolated country home for vibrant London society. As she stumbles through the city, she encounters many people including the handsome, Lord Orville. Evelina is a young woman whös spent her entire childhood in seclusion. Although the legitimate daughter of Sir John Belmont, she was raised in the country with Reverend Villars. When Evelina is offered a chance to visit London, she quickly accepts the opportunity. Upon her arrival, her questionable origins and naïveté make her a target for rumors and speculation. Despite her unconventional ways, she catches the eye of nobleman, Lord Orville and tries to navigate formal rules of society and courtship. Evelina or the History of a Young Lady¿s Entrance into the World is a compelling story bursting with humor and romanticism. The author beautifully weaves multiple characters and arcs into one satisfying narrative. Originally published in 1778, Evelina maintains its refreshing outlook on contemporary life. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Evelina is both modern and readable.

The Wanderer or Female Difficulties follows a woman fleeing France to escape a painful past, only to be met with new obstacles along the way. It's an honest depiction of eighteenth-century life without the presence of political or familial support.A wandering woman emigrates to England to escape the violent uprising of 1790s France. With no friends or family, she must find work and connect with others for assistance. Her lack of finances and social status leave her vulnerable to the whims of wealthy employers. Despite her situation, the woman becomes involved with a man who's unaware of her troubled past. She struggles to maintain her privacy as the truth becomes harder to hide.The Wanderer or Female Difficulties highlights the flaws of English society built on politics and patriarchy. One woman's survival depends on the kindness or cruelty of others. It's a glaring injustice, that forces her to make light of dire circumstances.With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Wanderer or Female Difficulties is both modern and readable.

This Broadview edition pairs two of Frances Burney's linked comedies. They both present the character of Lady Smatter, a "femme savante" whose lineage may be traced back to Molière; they both centre on the misfortunes of the "elle" figure, the dispossessed heiress and wife who appears frequently in Burney's fiction; and they both criticize a culture of misogyny that breeds suspicion and resentment. The Witlings, lighter and more comic, derives from late seventeenth-century conventions; The Woman-Hater, more melodramatic, both expresses and warns against the excessive sensibility of romanticism. Together, these two plays constitute a miniature history of English drama from the Restoration to the French Revolution and beyond. This edition contains a valuable selection of appendices, including: Burney's "Epilogue to Gerilda"; letters and diary entries; contemporary writings on comedy; and Burney's cast-list for The Woman-Hater.

Novelist and playwright Frances (Fanny) Burney, 1752-1840, was also a prolific writer of journals and letters, beginning with the diary she started at fifteen and continuing until the end of her eventful life. From her youth in London high society to a period in the court of Queen Charlotte and her years interned in France with her husband Alexandre d'Arblay during the Napoleonic Wars, she captured the changing times around her, creating brilliantly comic and candid portraits of those she encountered - including the 'mad' King George, Samuel Johnson, Sir Joshua Reynolds, David Garrick and a charismatic Napoleon Bonaparte. She also describes, in her most moving piece, undergoing a mastectomy at fifty-nine without anaesthetic. Whether a carefree young girl or a mature woman, Fanny Burney's forthright, intimate and wickedly perceptive voice brings her world powerfully to life.

The text is that of the third edition text of this influential novel, which incorporates all of Burney's changes.

Leaving the secluded home of her guardian for the first time, beautiful Evelina Anville is captivated by her new surroundings in London's beau monde - and in particular by the handsome, chivalrous Lord Orville. But her enjoyment soon turns to mortification at the hands of her vulgar and capricious grandmother, and the rakish Sir Clement Willoughby, who torments the na ve young woman with his unwanted advances. And while her aristocratic father refuses to acknowledge her legitimacy, Evelina can hold no hope of happiness with the man she loves. Published anonymously in 1778, Frances Burney's epistolary novel brought her instant fame when the secret of its authorship was revealed. With its ingenious combination of romance and satire, comedy and melodrama, Evelina is a sparkling depiction of the dangers and delights of fashionable society.