Evelina

Fanny Burney shattered the glass ceiling for all female writers yet to come with this utterly exquisite, character driven, epistolary first novel, published anonymously in 1778. It swept through the highest literary circles and beyond in a fire of utter pleasure - Joshua Reynolds, the brilliant portrait painter himself staying up all night to finish it; spellbound. Indeed many attributed this enthralling story of a young lady's coming-of-age entrance into society as the work of Samuel Johnson; the characters - from all walks of life, so perfectly drawn and delightful to read. It is a whirlwind love story of manners, etiquette and an every day reflection into eighteenth century life, rare and utterly wonderful. Evelina, perhaps most of all is a love story in the truest sense that will have you unable to put it down until, just like Joshua Reynolds, you have turned the very last page with a heart-compelled sigh. Many female writers, including Jane Austen, have been inspired by Evelina and, of course, the amazingly talented writer herself, Fanny Burney. Needless to say, once her identity as the author of Evelina was widely known by 1779, she became an instant celebrity, loved and admired by all.