Fantomina: Or, Love in a Maze

Fantomina, or, Love in a Maze is a novella by Eliza Haywood which charts an unnamed female protagonist''s pursuit of the charming, shallow Beauplaisir. Dealing with major themes such as identity, class and sexual desire, and first published in 1725, ''Fantomina'' subverts the popular ''persecuted maiden'' narrative, and reaches a climax which would have shocked its contemporary readership.Moving to London, a young woman – let''s call her Fantomina – meets a dashing man at the theatre. After...