Evelina (Oxford World's Classics)
by Frances Burney
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Book Summary Information
Author: Frances BurneyEditor: Edward A. Bloom
Introduction: Vivien Jones
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-12-15
ISBN: 0199536937
Number of pages: 512
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Book Reviews of Evelina (Oxford World's Classics)
Book Review: Hidden treasure exposed...
Summary: 5 Stars
"We are the slaves of custom, the dupes of prejudice, and dare not stem the torrent of an opposing world, even though our judgments condemn our compliance!"
Beautiful Miss Evelina doesn't know just how true her guardian's observations are until she is forced to be right smack in the middle of them. Evelina is a young orphan. Her mother died after giving birth and her father, a French baronet, wants nothing to do with her. And so, she has grown up with a kind reverend, a man who goes out of his way to protect his ward from the cruelties of the world. But when Lady Howard invites Evelina to stay for a short while at Howard Grove, Mr. Villars agrees to let her go. After all, he cannot protect her forever. Sooner or later she will have to get acquainted with the ways of the world. But neither Mr. Villars nor Evelina anticipated the things that occur once she leaves her small Dorchester village. In a series of letters, Evelina gives her guardian a blow by blow of everything that happens. A short in stay in London, requests Lady Howard? Might as well, responds Mr. Villars. In the midst of attending assemblies, the opera, theatres and balls, Evelina becomes the object of admiration among the opposite sex. Among her many suitors are the gentlemanly Lord Orville and the persistent Sir Clement Willoughby. But more pressing matters occur. Her paternal grandmother, Madam Duvall, wants to get close to Evelina. In her acquaintance, she meets some hitherto unknown relatives, the exceedingly vulgar Branghtons, and among them several unwanted suitors. How will Evelina react when Madam Duvall insists on taking her to Paris?
First published in 1778, Evelina is a revelation to me. I hadn't heard of this novel or its author -- Frances Burney -- until now. Who would've thought that my city library would contain such hidden treasure? Evelina is a comedy of manners, a satire of fashionable London and the hypocrisies hidden in "polite society." I've learned that Jane Austen admired this author. In fact, Burney was a big influence on Austen. You will notice similarities in their writing. (Mr. Darcy springs to mind when you read about Lord Orville's first impressions of Evelina.) Burney, however, is bolder, edgier, more to the point. Irony is big in this novel -- and so is its focus on vulgarity. The bickering between Madam Duvall and Captain Mirvan are hilarious. And the Branghtons are the rudest people in the world. Sir Clement Willoughby is practically a stalker. The carriage incident leaves a bad taste in my mouth. One thing I did not like about this novel is the fact that Evelina seems to gain admiration from every man she encounters. The only thing that keeps them from making a formal marriage proposal is her somewhat ambiguous background. After all, they wouldn't dream of marrying the bastard child of a nobleman! But, of course, that wouldn't stop them from seeking her for other purposes. Like I said, this is a direct attack to the customs and ways of its time. Some might say that Burney's views were ahead of her time. And that is why I love reading classics. It's the genuine article. You don't have to wonder if such and such occurrences were possible during that era like with historical fiction. And that is why these will always have more advantage to me than modern work. This Oxford World's Classics edition contains a glossary. I finally know exactly what a "ridotto" is. If you've never heard of Fanny Burney, then I suggest you look up this novel. A true Georgian classic, this is more obscure and not nearly as popular as Austen, but it's definitely worth reading. I guarantee it!
Summary of Evelina (Oxford World's Classics)
Frances Burney's first and most enduringly popular novel is a vivid, satirical, and seductive account of the pleasures and dangers of fashionable life in late eighteenth-century London. As she describes her heroine's entry into society, womanhood and, inevitably, love, Burney exposes the vulnerability of female innocence in an image-conscious and often cruel world where social snobbery and sexual aggression are played out in the public arenas of pleasure-gardens, theatre visits, and balls. But Evelina's innocence also makes her a shrewd commentator on the excesses and absurdities of manners and social ambitions--as well as attracting the attention of the eminently eligible Lord Orville.Evelina, comic and shrewd, is at once a guide to fashionable London, a satirical attack on the new consumerism, an investigation of women's position in the late eighteenth century, and a love story. The new introduction and full notes to this edition help make this richness all the more readily available to a modern reader.
About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.
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