Evelina: or, The History of a Young Lady's Entrance into the World (Modern Library Classics) (Paperback)

~ (Author), Elizabeth Kowaleski Wallace (Introduction)
Key Phrases: gracious heaven, pon honour, Lord Orville, Madame Duval, Sir Clement (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"... rejoice in Broadview’s impressive new edition of the work, here ably introduced and annotated by Susan Kubica Howard." -- Terry Castle, Stanford University

"...will serve both seasoned scholars in the field and readers who may be encountering Evelina for the first time." -- Audrey Bilger, Claremont McKenna College --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Review

"Students like the format and selection of notes. The information given seems pertinent and helpful. I like the illustrations included in the edition."--D. Fulkerson, Ohio Northern Univ.
"An excellent edition - fine introduction, notes, and chronology. Both scholarly and easy to read."--Robert Mayer, Oklahoma State University
"This is a most attractive and useful edition of an increasingly central text of the early English novel. I wholeheartedly urge adoption of this version for students at all levels."--Laura Dabundo, Kennesaw State College
"The best edition on the market."--David Mazella, University of Houston
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Modern Library; New edition edition (December 4, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375758054
• ISBN-13: 978-0375758058
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,850,570 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Bold Reminder of a Gentler Day, July 27, 2001

By	Gwyn Gwyrdd "geek" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Evelina: or the History of a Young Lady's Entrance into the World (Oxford World's Classics) (Paperback)

The mention of Ms. Burney in Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey is what originally drew me to this book and it has, without a doubt, become a personal favorite.

Evelina is our heroine, sent to town by her guardian to enter society. Her guardian, who raised her after her mother faced an unfortunate early demise, is a country parson. Evelina's father, of noble blood, is guilty of denying his legal marriage to her mother and essentially putting her out on the streets, and has refused to acknowledge or support Evelina through the years. She has now grown to a great beauty and has been raised with a very innocent and gentle disposition.

When thrown into the midst of a worldly London society, she faces one embarrassing circumstance after another. Surrounded by nothing less than idiots, she is faced with many situations which require wisdom and guts. Not unlike Bridget Jones's Diary, Evelina's story is told through letters, which may make this period novel easier to read for some, but may also at times be confusing if you forget who is writing to whom. This letter format can also seem unrealistic at moments but is forgiven as easily as we forgive some of the unrealistic format of "Bridget Jones". Another note, there are so many passes in this book that singletons could almost use it as a field guide to the world of men.

There are some twists throughout to keep your mind turning and your heart flying and sinking. At times, this lighthearted novel is incredibly moving (i.e. Evelina's reunion with her father)and of course, the ending is sweet and satisfying.

Overall, Jane Austen's inspiration is a marvelous, lovely, and surprisingly modern read.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Overall, a Pleasant Read, February 21, 2000

By	Emily Snyder (Massachusetts) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Evelina (The World's Classics) (Paperback)

As part of a group read, I picked up a week late"Evelina" from my local library. I wasn't quite sure whatto expect - certainly this would be no Tom Jones, but it wouldn't be Austen either - however what I found was a pleasant epistolary jaunt through a young girl's first season out. A jaunt, which, although begun a week late was quickly finished two weeks early! Customary to 18th century novels, Evelina's history is somewhat romantic, both her guardian and the hero impossibly good (a refreshing novelty, if a little sappy in places. They were apparently active members in the Mutual Admiration Society), and the secondary characters ridiculously vulgar. As Burney's first novel, the work shows some awkwardness in construction, but is otherwise excellent. Readers of modern romances may find the heros a bit formal, and fans of Jane Austen may find the epistlotary form unbelievable, but both they and lovers of historical fiction would do well to invest in this book, which provides an excellent glance into the end of an era, and one charming heroine's attempt to muddle through it. END

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars sharp stuff!, January 20, 2001

By	Annette Hrisko-Allen (pdx,usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Evelina: or The History of a Young Lady's Entrance into the World (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)

When I heard that Jane Austen read the novels of Fanny Burney, I had to see what could inspire the genius behind "Pride and Prejudice".

Burney does a wonderful job in dispelling the myth that there ever was a time called "the good old days". Immorality, bigotry, and sexual hijinks were just as prevalent then as they are now (it was just better written back then!)

Evelina, the pure and morally upright heroine of the piece, writes about her "coming out" period in London Society. Having grown up in the pastoral seclusion of Berry Hill, Evelina must defend her virtue against a cast of characters as amoral, vapid and ridiculous as any in modern Soapland.

There are raves (minus the drugs); acts of racism; narrowly averted incest (and, subsequently, a whole passel of long-lost relatives who come out of the woodwork); encounters with prostitutes; more come-ons than you could tally at a frat party; and even an indirect comment on transvestitism. Through it all, Evelina's behavior goes from sweet refusals, moral outrage, to nearly having a fit of vapors.

However, she isn't completely bereft of allies. There are Mrs. and Miss Mirvan, two gentle creatures who serve in contrast to the drunken buffoonery of the patriarch, Captain Mirvan. Then there is Mrs. Selwyn, the epitome of all that an Eighteenth Century lady was NOT supposed to be--intelligent, wry, outspoken, and possessed of a rapier-like sense of humor.

Of course, there's the hero (whom I won't mention because he makes himself pretty well known early on).

While the writing is not nearly as tight as Austen's, Burney does a great job in styling each piece of correspondese into a mini-vignette of Society's shallowness and vulgarity.

In all, a very fun little book.