Evelina
Or, The History of A Young Lady's Entrance into the World
📘 About This Book
Raised in seclusion until her seventeenth birthday, Evelina is exposed to London society for the first time while in the company of the fashionable Lady Howard. Evelina’s lack of aristocratic upbringing quickly becomes apparent, but undaunted by her lack of awareness of the customs and conventions of eighteenth-century London, Evelina strives to win the love of established nobleman Lord Orville. Published anonymously, Frances Burney’s Evelina is a satirical novel that conveys one young woman’s coming-of-age in highly aggressive, and fashionable eighteenth-century society. Evelina’s innocent commentary perfectly depicts the isolating effect of these customs, while also criticizing them, and provides shrewd commentary on the spectacle and formalities of English society. HarperPerennial Classics brings great works of literature to life in digital format, upholding the highest standards in ebook production and celebrating reading in all its forms. Look for more titles in the HarperPerennial Classics collection to build your digital library.
📖 Summary
Frances Burney's Evelina, originally published anonymously and presented in this edition by HarperPerennial Classics, stands as a remarkable satirical novel that charts one young woman's coming-of-age journey through the aggressive and fashionable landscape of eighteenth-century London society. Raised in strict seclusion until her seventeenth birthday, the protagonist Evelina is suddenly thrust into the dazzling yet treacherous world of the British elite while under the care and company of the fashionable Lady Howard. This sharp transition from isolation to the bustling capital immediately highlights her lack of an aristocratic upbringing, as she struggles to navigate the intricate and often baffling customs, conventions, and formalities that govern high society. Undaunted by her initial unawareness of these unwritten rules, Evelina strives not only to survive the social minefield but also to win the genuine affection of the established and noble Lord Orville. Through Evelina's eyes, the novel offers a brilliant and innocent commentary that perfectly captures the isolating effects of rigid social customs while simultaneously offering a sharp critique of them. Burney employs humor, wit, and observational brilliance to provide a shrewd analysis of the spectacle, superficiality, and rigid hierarchies that defined English society during the period. The nearly six hundred pages of this edition immerse readers in a richly detailed historical setting where polite manners often mask aggressive social climbing, and where a young woman's reputation is perpetually at stake. Evelina's journey is both a delightful romance and a profound social critique, showcasing how an outsider's fresh perspective can expose the absurdities of an established cultural order. Ultimately, Burney crafts a timeless narrative about identity, propriety, and the quest for true affection amidst the glittering chaos of Georgian London, cementing the book's status as a foundational text in the tradition of manners fiction and feminist literary history.
🎯 Key Lessons
⚖️ Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
Shrewd and biting satire of eighteenth-century English customs
Engaging and innocent protagonist whose perspective captivates the reader
Vivid depiction of the spectacle and formalities of London high society
Skillful blending of a coming-of-age narrative with social critique
⚠️ Cons
The lengthy page count may test the patience of modern readers
Eighty-first-century prose style and conventions can feel dense at times
❓ FAQ
Who is the author of Evelina? +
The novel was written by Frances Burney and originally published anonymously.
What is the main plot of the book? +
It follows a seventeen-year-old girl raised in seclusion as she experiences London society for the first time and attempts to win the love of Lord Orville.
When is the book set? +
The story is set in eighteenth-century London amidst fashionable and aggressive high society.
What genres does Evelina belong to? +
It is a work of fiction that serves as a satirical coming-of-age novel and a comedy of manners.
How many pages are in this edition? +
This HarperPerennial Classics edition contains 598 pages.
