Sign in with FacebookCassandra's Reviews > Evelina, Or, the History of a Young Lady's Entrance Into the World: Authoritative Text, Contexts and Contemporary Reactions, Criticism
Evelina, Or, the History of a Young Lady's Entrance Into the World: Authoritative Text, Contexts and Contemporary Reactions, Criticism
by Fanny Burney, Stewart J. Cooke
by Fanny Burney, Stewart J. Cooke
Cassandra's review
bookshelves: classics, secular-fiction
Sep 06, 12
bookshelves: classics, secular-fiction
Read from August 09 to September 06, 2012
3.5 stars - It's an interesting story, mostly a study in human character. I can see how Jane Austen was inspired by Burney, though I think at this point I prefer Austen's works!
There are some really funny lines in this book...
"Indeed I am quite astonished to find how little music is attended to in silence; for though every body seems to admire, hardly any body listens" (88).
"Lordship!- how extraordinary! that a nobleman, accustomed, in all probability, to the first rank of company in the kingdom, from his earliest infancy, can possibly be deficient in good manners, however faulty in morals and principles!" (89).
"Is he married?" "Lord, no, that he is not," cried Miss Branghton; "he looks too smart, by a great deal, for a married man" (172).
"She has some good qualities, but they rather originate from pride than principle, as she piques herself upon being too high born to be capable of an unworthy action, and thinks it incumbent upon her to support the dignity of her ancestry. Fortunately for the world in general, she has taken it into her head, that condescension is the most distinguishing virtue of high life, so that the same pride of family which renders others imperious, is with her the motive of affability" (234).
"You are in the right," said Mrs. Selwyn, "not to watch time, lest you should be betrayed, unawares, into reflecting how you employ it" (297).
There are some really funny lines in this book...
"Indeed I am quite astonished to find how little music is attended to in silence; for though every body seems to admire, hardly any body listens" (88).
"Lordship!- how extraordinary! that a nobleman, accustomed, in all probability, to the first rank of company in the kingdom, from his earliest infancy, can possibly be deficient in good manners, however faulty in morals and principles!" (89).
"Is he married?" "Lord, no, that he is not," cried Miss Branghton; "he looks too smart, by a great deal, for a married man" (172).
"She has some good qualities, but they rather originate from pride than principle, as she piques herself upon being too high born to be capable of an unworthy action, and thinks it incumbent upon her to support the dignity of her ancestry. Fortunately for the world in general, she has taken it into her head, that condescension is the most distinguishing virtue of high life, so that the same pride of family which renders others imperious, is with her the motive of affability" (234).
"You are in the right," said Mrs. Selwyn, "not to watch time, lest you should be betrayed, unawares, into reflecting how you employ it" (297).
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Reading Progress
| 08/14/2012 | page 43 |
|
8.0% | |
| 08/23/2012 | page 111 |
|
22.0% | "8/23 - Just finished Book 1. Enjoying the story thus far, though it's very different to read the story as a series of letters between three of the characters." |
