The Adventures of Rivella

by Delarivier Manley, Katherine Zelinsky (Editor)

Delarivier Manley is increasingly coming to the fore as a prominent figure in early eighteenth-century fiction, and The Adventures of Rivella in particular has been attracting attention not only as an important example of amatory fiction, but also as an early autobiographical novel. At one level, Sir Charles Lovemore tells the story of Rivella’s life to his friend, the Chevalier d’Aumont; at another, Manley uses the male persona to portray herself as an unrivalled literary goddess of love, repudiating conventional equations of woman, writer, and whore, and refusing to confuse chastity with moral integrity.

Genres: Classics, 18th Century, School, Autobiography

178 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1714

About the author

Delarivier "Delia" Manley, English author and playwright.

Reviews

[Lee Foust · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up second hand as an example of the early English novel. Actually it's a kind of fictionalized autobiography, written via blackmail (in order to replace a never written but threatened biography aimed at character assassination). Apparently the author is more famous for a handful of plays and some satirical gossip novels so scandalous they landed the author, publisher, and printer in jail briefly. Although the main gist of this (a protracted legal battle over a fortune) was rather hard to follow, I love reading English prose from other centuries, just to hear how the music of our native tongue has altered and to glimpse into passed worlds. I do wish I'd read one of Manley's plays or satirical novels, though--I feel like they might have been more aesthetically minded than this interestingly framed self-examination that went none-too-deep by today's standards. Shutout for the pseudonym Lord Crafty. I feel like that should be the name of an indi rock band if it isn't already.

[Emily · Rating 1 out of 5]

One of the most boring and confusing stories I’ve ever read

[Danica Stojanovic-Schaffrath · Rating 4 out of 5]

...much more fun when you have to write a paper about it :)

[Bay · Rating 2 out of 5]

usually don’t rate books I read for school but this was so confusing actually pmo

[May Ling · Rating 2 out of 5]

One day I will have to come to terms with the fact that I just don't like literature about women being open from this period of time. I think you should read this if you're doing work on things like Lady Chatterley's Lover, or Kate Chopin, etc. However, if you are not of that ilk, just skip it.

I did like it better than those other novels as this woman makes a lot of sense to me, even in today's age. It's just the modern woman is so much more so, that it feels like you're watching a martian.

[Candy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Love love love the way Manley sets up this book: It's a "memoir", with a male narrator, painting herself in the best light possible. But good lord, the story! There are pages and pages about a lawsuit that I became completely lost in. Interesting in idea and structure, but I couldn't get into her story.

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

woof.