#frances Burney

[ninja-muse]

I bought Evelina on Jane Austen's recommendation and barely a day into reading it I was torn between "yes, of course Austen liked this!" and "oh, this explains so much!" and by halfway through I was consumed with glee over what I'd picked up. This is essentially an Austen novel but with twice the ~*~drama~*~ and so at least in my mind, twice the fun. You get awkward interactions at balls, terrible and embarrassing relatives, multiple suitors, and a frantic carriage ride with fake highwaymen, it's a whole thing.

The forward in my edition said that Burney was trying to be realistic with her characters and situations, not to be dramatic for the sake of it, and I think she pretty much nailed it. Evelina is a very believable seventeen—shy, naive, socially awkward, impulsive, deeply embarrassed by the people around her and also her own actions. She's trying to navigate an adult, social world with no experience and little guidance and with the bonus of rock and a hard place options thanks to cultural misogyny. Most of the drama comes from situations that anyone might find themselves in even now—parties, family dinners, nights on the town, people inviting themselves over because they "were in the area", visiting people you dislike out of obligation. Are some of the supporting characters a little larger than life and some of the situations the same? Sure, but I've read modern romcoms that needed more suspended disbelief, and I've read eighteenth-century novels that needed more too. Burney's ability to hit the ups and downs of emotions per the tropes of the sentimental novel while sticking to everyday topics and characters is commendable. Marvelous, even.

So yeah, I see why this caught Austen's attention. It's got a relatable teen girl doing "modern" teen girl things, it spoofs Georgian society in the excitingly foreign location of London, it's got enough going on between the personal growth and the suitors and the awful relatives and the problems with Evelina's parentage and inheritance that there's always something happening and always something to keep reading for. It's a novel about a female life by a woman who was reacting to the over-the-top novels and characterizations she saw around her. And I think if you're familiar with Austen at all, you can see what she took from it too? There were definite resonances with Northanger Abbey but also with Fanny Price and Catherine de Bourgh and there is literally a cad named Willoughby.

In other words, I had a lot of fun reading this and I've yet to finish another book this month that I wanted to talk up more. (The Demon of Unrest is also very good, but do I want to be discussing the American Civil War? Not really.) This is definitely a classic I think more people should read, especially if those people like modern Regency romances and/or Austen herself. Can't recommend it enough!

[lizziestudieshistory]

26.06.2023 - I'm really enjoying having the days back to myself again, I've got a long summer ahead before I start teaching properly in September. I'm hoping to use this time to work on my mental health, as it's taken a real knock the last two years, and do a lot of the things I've been putting off.

Anyway, I've finally set up my new desk! I don't need a proper desk anymore, so I've gone for a vintage writing bureau (with shelving that I still need to sort!) I've also updated my reading journal and started reading Evelina. I'm having a lot of fun with this one so far - I do love a good epistolary novel, there's nothing quite like them!

Currently reading: Evelina by Frances Burney (and a lot of academic articles!)

[aliteraryprincess]

February 2024 Wrap Up

Why is it that February always seems to last forever? It's got to be one of my least favorite months, although it does mark the anniversary of me meeting my husband, so at least there's that. We've known each other five years!

Books Read: 6

This was a good reading month. Cecilia is my favorite of the month (and frankly should count for three books since it's so huge). The Margaret Oliphant biography is my least favorite, although I didn't hate it or anything. It was definitely less condescending and obnoxious than the one I read back in November that made me want to fight the authors (unfortunately I can't; they're dead). But it was still a little condescending and Williams referred to Oliphant as Margaret throughout, which irritated me. Ones marked with ® are rereads.

Margaret Oliphant: A Critical Biography by Merryn Williams - 3 stars

Salem Chapel by Margaret Oliphant - 4 stars ®

Heartstopper Vol. 5 by Alice Oseman - 5 stars

A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid - 5 stars

Cecilia by Frances Burney - 5 stars

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins - 4 stars

On Tumblr:

Look, I'm posting photos again! I'm trying to post pictures of my fairy tale retellings on Fridays as a small continuation of Fairy Tale Friday. My favorite thing about writing those posts for my blog was taking the photos, and I would still like to do that even though I've moved the feature onto YouTube.

January 2024 Wrap Up

Book Photography: The Night Dance by Suzanne Weyn

Book Photography: Midnight Pearls by Debbie Viguié

Book Quotes: A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid

Book Quotes: A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid

Reblogged: Horror Recommendations for a Teen

On YouTube:

And we've got a fair amount here, including an hour long ramble about The Chronicles of Narnia!

January Wrap Up | 9 books for the start of 2024!

Rereading The Chronicles of Narnia as an Adult | Remember December Rereadathon

A #FebRegency Currently Reading 2/12/24

The #FebRegency Tag

March TBR | (Middle)March of the Mammoths!

What I Read for My PhD in English Literature | 19th-Century American Literature

[evelinaeveryday]

[litandlifequotes]

You are the friend to whom my soul is attached as to its better half. You are dearer to me than language has the power of telling.

Evelina by Frances Burney

[lost-and-found-jc]

So apparently the two universal truths are:

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." -Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice (Chapter 1)

And

"...young women of large fortunes may have little trouble in finding themselves establishments,..." -Frances Burney, Cecilia (Book 9 Chapter 4)

[quotation--marks]

‘They are merry little souls; not very heavy, I believe, in the head: I don’t suppose they have a thought above once in a twelvemonth.’

Frances Burney, The Wanderer, or Female Difficulties

[dreamyartiste]

John Hoppner- Portrait Lady as Evelina

[annebrontesrequiem]

Frances Burney’s sense of drama is only matched by her sense of satire. I see things are about to become very stressful for the next 90 pages

[lizziestudieshistory]

Books of 2023 - July

Somehow I've read a lot this month but haven't actually finished that many books considering I've been on holiday? I don't really know what happened.

Books read:

Silas Marner by George Eliot - this is by far the biggest surprise of the year. I was convinced I wasn't going to like George Eliot, but after reading Silas Marner I've been enchanted by her. On the surface I should have found this book a bit tedious, I typically don't like novels set in the countryside, however, I was hooked! Eliot's writing style was the big attraction here, she has such a lively style that I swear could make anything interesting after this, alongside her astoundingly convincing portrait of a village community in the 19th century. I came away believing people like those that inhabited Raveloe existed and I was fascinated by them. (It probably helped that I am VERY familiar with villiage communities in Warwickshire thanks to my research, which is where Raveloe is supposed to be.) Honestly this was the best place for me to start with George Eliot and I will be continuing.

The Age of Innocence by Edith Whaton - this was an impromptu read when I wanted an audiobook to listen to while sewing. However, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book! I was swept away into 1870s New York society and was captivated by how casually awful everyone turned out to be. I didn't enjoy it as much as The House of Mirth (mainly because I didn't like Archer, May, or Countess Olenska as much as Lily or Seldon) but I had a fabulous time revisiting Wharton.

Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare - I love this play, it brings me so much joy when I read it and this time was no different. I still believe Beatrice is Shakespeare's best heroine and I will accept no arguments to the contrary.

Approximately 25 articles, reviews, essays, and introductions about Jane Austen's Emma by various authors - I don't know what's happened to me, I've become an obsessive... However, I have had a great time and learnt A LOT about regency literature in the process? It's given me a greater appreciation of Emma and I don't regret a moment I spent on this. My only problem is I don't really know what to do with all my notes!

DNF:

Mansfield Park by Jane Austen - I tried okay? However, I finished volume one and couldn't find a single reason to keep reading except completionism. I hated Fanny and the Bertrams, I was bored by the Crawfords, and I missed the style of Emma. Overall, I was left wondering why I was bothering with Mansfield Park as I wasn't enjoying myself. So, I dropped it to read something else that I'd actually enjoy.

Currently reading:

Evelina by Frances Burney - I'm in love with this book, but for some reason I'm not devouring it? I'm taking my time with it and revelling in the experience - I've made my peace with this and will continue to enjoy my leisurely read.

Richard II by William Shakespeare - I'm rereading this and taking it an act a day because I'm making notes. I'll actually finish it tomorrow, but I'm not counting it as read.

The Book of Lost Tales Part Two by J.R.R. Tolkien - another leisurely read because it's so dense and, like Shakespeare, I'm making notes when I feel inclined. I also really struggled to get through the section on The Tale of Tinuviel... (I don't like ANY of the prose versions of Beren and Luthien? It needs to be in verse for me to get into it 🤷‍♀️) But now I've got through that opening section I'm enjoying this a lot more.

Charles I and the People of England by David Cressy - my current non-fiction tome. I'm having a great time with this, but it was going to be a winner considering my unreasonable love for Charles I!

Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke - I have no idea how I ended up in the middle of this but I'm enjoying it well enough that I'm going to continue (although I think I prefer Piranesi?)

[botanicalpanicle]

in another universe dracula daily is evelina daily and we make memes about our friend rev. villars' increasing unhingedness at his teenager's "perils of a late 18th c. heroine" speedrun

[ofliterarynature]

One of my goals this year was to read 6 previously unread classics - I’m behind and only at 4, and I promised that one of them would be another Frances Burney if possible, since I loved Evelina. Well, the library does have one other book on audio, and it’s…over 37 hours. Lord save me.

[evelinaeveryday]

not to participate in unpaid barbie promotion, but...

[p1325]

“Generosity without delicacy, like wit without judgement, generally gives as much pain as pleasure.” ― Frances Burney, Evelina

[lost-and-found-jc]

Mr. Monckton telling Cecilia:

“Be upon your guard,” he cried, “with all new acquaintance; judge nobody from appearances; form no friendship rashly; take time to look about you, and remember you can make no alteration in your way of life, without greater probability of faring worse, than chance of faring better.

Has the same vibes as this video: