I did not love Evelina as much the third time around. Also, it's been a number of years since I read it, and I think my tastes and level of tolerance has changed a little. This is a really, really long book, and though I enjoyed the last section, where Evelina and Lord Orville (who is honestly a little too idealized) actually get a chance at figuring each other out, my patience ran thin for all of the horrible people Evelina has to hang out with. The main thing I came away with was pity for the helplessness of young women back in the day. And even though Evelina is a person of sense and good judgment, she has to hide it most of the time in order to be polite. I'm not saying we don't do something similar nowadays, but the language of excessive decorum got a little tiring. And then it swung to the other extreme of spending way too much time on scenes where vulgar people are making mischief. There was hardly anybody ever talking sense. Even Evelina's guardian, who is supposed to be the ultimate voice of reason, mostly just talks about how he is looking forward to dying in her arms. I have to wonder, was all this kind of thing common in letter-writing and speech of the day? Or is it an exaggerated reality that people were supposed to aspire to?
As a reader, I always felt like Evelina was a bit of an enigma to me, in spite of the fact that nearly all of the hundreds of letters were written by her. I think it's because, though she is describing what happens to her in society, one gets the sense that she never really participates in it. Mostly she just watches and then feels appropriately disturbed or contented. No doubt she was seen as a paragon of womanly virtue at the time of publication, but it's hard to read without feeling the injustice of it.
It is interesting to view this as a prototype of women's literature. Jane Austen's novels, which came a few decades later, show society as still a mix of posh and crass, but with more of an insistence that there is a middle ground, and her heroines, while still polite, are less afraid to express their thoughts in conversation. She has also nicely pared down her dialogue and descriptions, so that they are not nearly as high-flown as Mrs. Burney's. ( )

A novel of letters with its bits of humor, sensitivity of relationships, and a bit of satire of the manners of both the privileged and the lower classes. ( )

A delightful read! A mix of Wilde's humor, Austen's perception, and Collins' intrigue. Even in those moments where I suspected exactly where the story was going, I felt so much pleasure in watching it unfold that it was not a moment's concern.

Poor Evelina, thrust upon the world without any armor but her good character to save her from the assaults of unscrupulous men, wanton women, ignorant relations and downright cruel associates, plods her way through the maze with a grace that makes you laugh when you ought to cry. Her innocence causes her to make some remarkably bad choices, but it could not be more obvious that she will need to trust to it for her deliverance. Even the well-intended in this story fall short of offering the assistance Evelina needs to navigate this world of pot-holes.

It is said that Burney was an influence on Austen, and I can certainly see that she was. Her character development and story line puts you in mind of Miss Jane right away. During some of the bantering between characters, I caught glimpses of that sharp humor that is so typical of Oscar Wilde and makes his plays such a joy. Example: "O pray, Captain," cried Mrs. Selwyn, "don't be angry with the gentleman for thinking, whatever be the cause, for I assure you he makes no common practice of offending in that way." Zing! She paints her buffoons and her true gentlemen with a broad brush, and she gives us every degree of coarseness and gentility side-by-side.

I find nothing to complain of in Ms. Burney's writing or style. My only disclaimer would be that it is very 19th Century (which I love), but if you are aggrieved by the state of a woman's lot during that time, you will find this frustrating. I kept wanting to advise Evelina myself to take the next carriage heading in the opposite direction! I give this a 4.5, only because I am very stingy with 5-star awards. Read it. You will be glad. ( )

In all candor, it's been a while since I was "swept off my feet" by a fictional character. The last one was probably Freddy from Georgette Heyer's Cotillion. But Orville, like some prehistoric Darcy, did just that. And, indeed, if he had been matched with someone his equal, this would have been less of a hidden classic. But, alas!, Evelina faints, bursts into tears, and (spoilers) lacks a sense of humor. In fact, if the tears she shed were real you could probably drown in them. So dull witted was she, that I didn't get the jokes... until the marvelous Mrs. Selwyn shows up.

Similarly, certain areas of the plot feel contrived. She goes to London with Mrs. Duval to meet her father... but then he isn't even mentioned again until the last 10 or so letters? Seems fishy to me.

But Orville! Read it for him. And be glad that Jane Austen (apparently) got inspiration from Fanny. ( )

This is a comedy bordering on farce. Evelina writes letters to and from her guardian about what is happening in her life. When she meets her grandmother Mrs Duval, she insists on taking charge of Evelina, dragging her into some difficult situations. From a coach trip which results in a ‘staged’ highway robbery, leaving Mrs Duval in the mud, bound and without her curls, to a night at the opera where no one seems to know the correct etiquette for entering.

The Branghtons’ are her cousins, but the son is unruly and petulant and the girls spiteful and manipulative. After deliberately going on an evening walk down a dark alley, they become separated, and Evelina is found by Sir Clement Willoughby who takes her back to her party. It is hard to think of Sir Clement Willoughby as anything but a nuisance, but he does save Evelina from some rough young men. However, being in a carriage alone with him is not much better and without a chaperone does not look good. When the girls are not found, a search party is sent, and they blame Evelina for abandoning them.

Mr Lovel is a complete idiot and far too concerned with his own appearance. The way he embarrasses Evelina at the ball does not endear himself to anyone. Captain Mirvan’s joke with the monkey is taking things a little too far.

Lady Louisa probably best represents the aristocratic woman of the time, proud, lazy, selfish and ignorant. Compare this to Evelina’s innocent humility. She does not pretend to know everything, and this is why she seeks advice from her guardian. That guardian worries about the corruption of the city and its dangers which prove not unfounded. With no constant male protector outside the home, Evelina is in a vulnerable position with men at liberty to address her however they please.

Lord Orville is the aristocratic hero of the novel and displays both good manners, breeding, respect and consideration towards everyone he meets. He is gracious to Mrs Duval when she presumes to take his coach based on Evelina’s brief acquaintance. In contrast to Sir Clement he shows that birth does not guarantee good manners.

Fanny Burney was one of the most popular novelists of her day and like Richardson the novel is an epistolary format. Lovers of Jane Austen will immediately draw comparisons as both discuss class and the manners of polite society. Burney, however, is much more overtly funny and less subtle in her characterisation but compared to most 18th century novels you will find it a much more acceptable pace. ( )