Evelina

Loved this book

I bought this book because I read Frances Burney was a favorite Author of Jane Austens and I enjoyed reading Austen's Novels. I ended up reading thisbook in one sitting- I couldn't put it down.

The book is written as correspondence between several people, but mostly between Evelina and her guardian. I believe when the story starts she is just 16 or 17. She goes to visit London and finds herself in a series of awkward situations because she is so young and inexperienced. She also finds herself in some truly mortifying situations because some of her relatives are just to ignorant to know any better. What makes the book so enjoyable isn't really what is happening - although alot is happening, its the way the author tells the story and makes the characters come to life. The book is intelligent and funny.

Burney manages to acqaint the reader with people, manners, and morals of Evelina's world with such skill that even 200 years later, a person can't help but care, hope, and understand.

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A well written story that will make you laugh and sigh!

One cannot help but simpathize with Evelina when she tries so hard but always seems to get into awkward (and sometimes humorous) situations. I think it is a very good book and I recomend it to anyone who enjoys classical literature. As soon as I picked it up I could not put it down!

A Classic that is a must read for any fan of novels about 19th Century English Society!

MOVE ASIDE JANE AUSTEN!! - This was a small novel written by Frances Burney, then called Fanny, that she feared would never be published or read. It should not be overlooked!
It is written as a collection of letters from main character to main character about one young woman's introduction into society, Evelina. She is young and beautiful and has been a victim to harsh injustices yet is unmared and unblemished and has remained protected and innocent by protection from her adoptive father. How will she cope in London Society? What prospective marriage match can an illegitemate daughter make when her own father and grandmother refuse to acknowledge her birthright? Its wonderful!

A Wonderful Novel

Evelina is a young woman entering the turbulent world of London and the ton. Realistic, fascinating, and touching, this novel is a wonderful read. I personally feel that Frances Burney is a superior author to Jane Austen. I would recommend this novel to anyone who loves to read, especially those who enjoy classics.

Shockingly absorbing for a book written in 1778

I was obligated to read this book for my 18th century British Literature class. Needless to say, I was not expecting to be enthralled in the least, however I could not have been more wrong. Once I picked it up I quite literally could not put it down. "Evelina" reads just as quickly and easily as any modern-day romance novel, and while reading it I could not help but be reminded of a certain Jane Austen novel. After reading "Evelina" it seems quite apparent where Austen got her inspiration for the dashing Mr. Darcy. I recommend this book to any Austen fan, but also to anyone who is interested in romance novels with a little bit more culture and intellectual stimulation.

(Sidenote: "Evelina" is an epistolary novel, and normally I'm not into that kind of story-telling, but this book seems to be the exception to most rules).

Austen's Favorite Author!

For those who love Jane Austen, here comes a novel from the woman she loved best! Burney's Evelina is an epistolary novel (novel of letters) which is 'standard' for women authors during the late-eighteenth century. However, Burney (and Evelina) subverts this form even as she writes in it! At times a biting social satire, at others a comedy of manners, Burney's first novel will no doubt delight any reader, whether an Austen fan or not. While it is captivating as a first novel, Cecilia is, arguably, one of the best novels ever written...and Austen fans will find elements of all her six novels in this one Burney text.

Great Book

I absolutely love Evelina! I have found it entertaining from cover to cover more than once. Because of the epistolary form, the reader is able to understand the thoughts of Evelina in a way that Jane Austen never managed to do. Evelina's story is also an interesting window into the customs and etiquette of 18th century society.

Great Read

Fanny Burney is a witty precursor to Jane Austen, and any who love Austen's work will love Burney's even more. Evelina is a charming and funny story. It is an epistolary novel, which may discourage some readers. However, it does not drag, as many other epistolary novels do. Action, humor, and suspense fill the novel. However, for a more traditional novel, read Cecelia by Burney. Do not be afraid of its length, for it is worth every minute of it. Camilla also is good, though not quite as enjoyable as Cecelia.

Love it!

This book is phenomenal! A must read!!! Throughout this read you travel along with the young woman Evelina on her exciting daily adventures to the opera, bath house, etc.. You learn about the type of strict mannerisms of that society and how it controlled daily life. By reading this book, you can learn how to cherish love and life through experiencing as much as you can on your own daily journeys.

A dull journey through the eyes of an 18th century teenager

I have read Fanny Burney's work before, and enjoyed it. Ironically, I found her most famous novel, 'Evelina', to be one of the worst books I ever read. It lacked the sparkle that her longer novels had and it was, above all, repetitive. Perhaps this was Burney's intent, since it is a satire and commentary on female roles in her century. Women were always dictated to by men and the whole book is basically Evelina's reporting to her guardian. Regardless, the repetition makes for a very dull read. Evelina's thoughts run on rails. She constantly obsesses over pleasing her guardian, over being seen in company with less than desirable people, and Lord Orville's thoughts of her. I highly recommend more people checking out Burney's work, since she is pretty unknown, but start with 'Cecilia' or 'Camilla'. Sure they are long, but they are much more entertaining.

This story is both a fairy tale and a black comedy.

This tale begins on a winter day when the Rev. Villars (Evelina's guardian) receives the unwelcome news that Evelina's grandmother, Madame Duval, wishes to gain custody of her long lost granddaughter. For the last sixteen years since her birth in Rev. Villar's home Evelina has been cloistered in the township of Berry Hill - a land of innocence and happiness like the biblical Eden. In the spring Evelina travels with friends to London where her angelic beauty attracts much attention. Soon after her arrival she is invited to a private ball. While preparing for the ball as she frizzles her hair and puts on a party gown Evelina grows increasingly self-conscious because she is unused to mixing in the circle of high life. The adventures of that evening are hilarious and also painful to read. But Evelina laughs it off the next morning with her best friend. This novel explores the dark side of life but never loses its light-hearted, comical tone. London is not what Evelina had expected and a few months later she writes: 'I shall be very glad to quit this town.' Soon after, on her last day in the city Evelina receives a shocking letter that plunges her into the depths of depression. She laments to find herself in 'a world so deceitful, where we must suspect what we see, distrust what we hear, and doubt even what we feel!' Evelina travels back to her native Berry Hill broken-hearted and inconsolable. The Rev. Villars saddened by the change he observes in his ward states 'I see but too plainly, that though Evelina is returned, -- I have lost my child!' And he attempts to end her distress by prophesying '¿doubt not but that time will stand your friend, and all will end well.' The Rev. Villar's prophecy comes true and before two months have passed Evelina's spirits are restored. Evelina triumphs over every obstacle that she encounters during her adventures. This is partly because of luck but mostly because of her virtue, strength of character, and purity of heart. In the closing line of her last letter to her beloved guardian she writes the magical words 'All is over¿the chaise now waits¿' This novel is both a fairy tale and a black comedy. It was written in the eighteenth century and offers a fascinating view of that time period. Part of the charm of this story is that it is written as a series of letters - all ending with closings like 'Your most obedient and most humble servant.' Fanny Burney has populated this story with many fascinating characters ranging from the motherly Rev. Villars, the virago Madame Duval, the sadistic Captain Mirvan, the two-faced Sir Clement Willoughby, the sardonic Mrs. Selwyn, and the noble hero Lord Orville. Evelina can be classified as a romance novel but it will appeal to both women and men, the young and old, the jaded and the innocent.

An Intriguing read for Historically minded readers

I enjoyed Evelina compared to some of the other readings that I have done this semester at school. I found the letters were able to hold my attention and the relationships that were developed between the characters very deep and intriguing. I highly reccomend this book for anybody who is curious as to what life was like for a young woman back in 17th centure London.

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