The Early Journals and Letters of Fanny Burney, Vol. 2: 1774-1777

by Lars E. Troide

The years 1774-77 saw Fanny Burney's increasing occupation with Evelina, which she finally completed and presented to the publisher Thomas Lowndes. Like her novel, the journals and letters of this period reveal her artistic powers, as she continues to sketch characters with economy and precision and create convincing narratives out of the events of her life. Among the more memorable figures she meets at her father's London house are the "noble savage" Omai, the first Tahitian brought back to England; the famed explorer James "Abyssinian" Bruce, who returned from Africa with tales of natives who ate raw flesh; and Prince Aleksei Orlov of Russia, who had Czar Peter III murdered in order to permit Peter's wife, Catherine "the Great," to ascend the throne. Other notable figures include Dr Samuel Johnson and the great singer Lucrezia Agujari, admired by Mozart. Also in these pages, the usually diffident Miss Burney takes charge of her destiny by rebuffing her suitor Thomas Barlow, who has wealth, education, good looks, and the vehement approval of most of her family, but whom she finds a total bore. The journals and letters of Fanny Burney are an invaluable source for anyone interested in the social and literary history of late eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century England. Lars Troide has supported the texts with thorough and detailed annotations.

550 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not the dry read one might expect from an 18th-century letter collection! The years covered in this volume (1774-7) are those leading up to and witnessing the composition of Fanny's first (published) novel, "Evelina", and so provide interesting insights into the conditions/practices out of which the novel partly grew.

Fanny (22yrs old in 1774) clearly had a ready pen, and a keenness to record/share with loved ones her observations and reflections on life and people, lest these reflections perish in oblivion (I love how she is 'shocked for Posterity' upon a lapse in her journalising habits!). But as well as having a ready pen, she had a ready perception, so that even everyday matters/meetings acquire so much engaging nuance and colour when related by her. Fanny also has a welcome of habit of reporting lots of dialogue - giving us a delicious taste of spoken language in all ranks of society, as well as bringing her people to life.

Letter-writing obviously suited Fanny's temperament and talents, and it's not surprising (to anyone who reads her letters) that she adopted the epistolary mode for "Evelina", and did so with success -in fact, it's quite interesting to observe how her correspondence with Samuel Crisp (old family friend living out of town) over these years probably suggested itself to her as a model for her book (which is structured by the correspondence b/w Evelina and her out of town guardian Mr Villars).

Highly recommended to all Burney enthusiasts, and anyone who wants to be instantly transported back in time to 18th cent. London society, and immersed in gossip, schemes and manners of the day!

Addit: the editing of these letters is very professional - each entry is accompanied by notes on manuscript condition, source, authorial annotations/amendments etc. An excellent basis for serious study.