Evelina, or The History of a Young Lady’s Entrance into the World by Frances Burney
Evelina: Arthur Rackham Captures Burney’s Comedy of Manners
Originally published in 1778, Frances Burney’s novel Evelina came decades before Jane Austen, yet already explored issues of women’s societal roles through a comedic lens. Its heroine Evelina navigates entering elite London circles in a series of humorous letters to her guardian concerning scandal, suitors, and false friends. Burney satirizes the complex social mores for upper class young ladies of the era.
Don’t miss your chance to snag this Rackham-Burney meeting of whimsical minds!
Buy Evelina, or The History of a Young Lady’s Entrance into the World
1898 edition of Fanny Burney’s landmark 1778 comic novel Evelina with 16 Rackham illustrations.
- Visualizes high society hijinks of the novel’s young ingenue protagonist
- Rackham cements Burney’s overlooked role inspiring Austen herself
- A scarce comedic Regency collaboration between two literary trailblazers
- Transportive visuals and seminal social satire in harmony
Burney published Evelina anonymously at age 25, but upon its success, revealed herself as the author. As daughter of a famous musician father, she was raised self-educated in rural seclusion until age 15 when she entered London society herself. Known for her diaries and plays exploring manners and morals, Burney influenced Austen with her witty send-ups of the marriage market’s commodification of young women.
Over a century later, Arthur Rackham’s 16 brilliant illustrations for this 1898 reprint reinvigorated Evelina’s reputation for subsequent generations. His humorous yet empathetic style captures both the absurdity of events testing Evelina as well as her naivety and perseverance. Rackham cements Burney’s pioneering voice while breathing added life into her comedy of errors satirizing social foibles contemporary readers still recognize today.
Format: Gray-blue cloth binding with brown decorative stamping, gilt top (416 pages)
Size: 5 x 7 1⁄2 inches
Text: Evelina, or The History of a Young Lady’s Entrance into the World by Frances Burney
Illustrations: 16 full page black and white illustrations by Arthur Rackham
Publisher: George Newnes Ltd. (London)
First Edition Publication Date: 1898. The first issue has only one page of advertisements at the back of the book, printed on only one side of the page. The last page is not numbered, but has “2D” in lower left-hand comer. The later issues have the full publisher’s list.
Summary: Renowned fantasy illustrator Arthur Rackham brought his nuanced touch to English novelist Frances Burney’s beloved late 18th century comedic social satire, Evelina, providing 16 splendid black and white visions upon its 1898 reprinting.
As the young title character navigates the morally questionable terrain of London society and courtship through a series of letters to her guardian, Rackham’s sympathetic portraits and scenes capture youthful naivety and wisdom hard-won through misadventures.
While Evelina marked Burney’s landmark debut 50 years prior, Rackham’s atmospheric contributions visualize the comedy of manners for new generations. As Rackham cemented his reputation in imaginative realms, his lively interpretation reinvigorated public appreciation for Burney’s pioneering exploration of women’s trials and social mores in dawn of the modern era.
