Dinarbas

by Ellis Cornelia Knight, Ann Messenger (Editor)

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

139 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1790

About the author

Ellis Cornelia Knight (1757-1837) was an English gentlewoman, traveller, landscape artist, and writer of novels, verse, journals, and history. She had the acquaintance of many prominent figures in her lifetime.

In 1805, she joined the household of Queen Charlotte, and from 1812 to 1814, she was Companion to Charlotte Augusta, Princess of Wales.

In 1818, she became teacher of English, literature, science and fine arts to the young Massimo Taparelli, the Marquis d'Azeglio, who was an important Italian writer, painter, patriot and politic.

The last twenty years of her life were spent outside England, and she died in Paris.

Reviews

[Adam Stevenson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to admit that I found Dinarbas a rather dull book to read. The plot, though tight, is not particularly surprising and the writing style is rather stiff and faux-archaic. I can’t tell whether the stiff writing is supposed to be in imitation of Johnson but if it is, it doesn’t really work.

However, I find some of the objections to Rasselas’s lessons to be valid and there is a thrill in having some of Johnson’s assumptions taken to task. Especially, his assumption that there is any 'Choice of Life' at all.

I will maintain, however, that the conclusion in which nothing is concluded - is still not concluded.