Evelina
Fanny Burney
Description
Evelina is an epistolary novel that follows the titular Evelina Anville as she navigates the challenging (and sometimes absurd) nuances of 18th-century English society. The novel begins as Evelina is invited to London by the Mirvan family, marking her first true exposure to English high society. She soon encounters a series of misunderstandings, social embarrassments, and would-be suitors. Evelina is naive but kind-hearted, and she finds that both goodness and meanness can be found in all stations of society in equal measure.
The novel captures the manners and customs of Georgian England, especially in regard to class distinctions and gender roles. Evelina’s position as a young woman born into nobility, but not acknowledged by her father, finds herself navigating challenging social dynamics throughout the novel, and meets with those who judge a person’s worth based on their birth. Further, Evelina faces the challenges inherent to a young unattached woman as she attempts to assert her agency while maintaining her dignity.
Evelina is an early example of the English romantic novel, and a fine example of social satire. When it was published in 1778, females were not encouraged to be writers, and Burney was forced to publish anonymously. Nevertheless, her work influenced writers like Jane Austen, who referred to Burney’s works in her novels and private letters, and continues to provide an insightful and often humorous lens through which to view the late 18th-century English aristocracy.
Read free
This ebook is thought to be free of copyright restrictions in the United States. It may still be under copyright in other countries. If you’re not located in the United States, you must check your local laws to verify that this ebook is free of copyright restrictions in the country you’re located in before accessing, downloading, or using it.
Download for ereaders
-
Compatible epub — All devices and apps except Kindles and Kobos.
-
azw3 — Kindle devices and apps. Also download the Kindle cover thumbnail to see the cover in your Kindle’s library. Despite what you’ve been told, Kindle does not natively support epub. You may also be interested in our Kindle FAQ.
-
kepub — Kobo devices and apps. You may also be interested in our Kobo FAQ.
-
Advanced epub — An advanced format that uses the latest technology not yet fully supported by most ereaders.
Read online
A brief history of this ebook
More details
Sources
Transcriptions
Page scans
Improve this ebook
Anyone can contribute to make a Standard Ebook better for everyone!
To report typos, typography errors, or other corrections, see how to report errors.
If you’re comfortable with technology and want to contribute directly, check out this ebook’s GitHub repository and our contributors section.
You can also donate to Standard Ebooks to help fund continuing improvement of this and other ebooks.