Evelina
Frances Burney
Read by LibriVox Volunteers
In this epistolary novel, we find a young woman named Evelina, who was raised in rural seclusion until her eighteenth year because of her uncertain parentage. Through a series of harrowing and humorous events that take place in London and an English resort town, Evelina learns how to navigate the complex layers of 18th century society and earn the love of a distinguished and honorable nobleman. This comedy of manners often satirizes the society in which it is set; Evelina is a significant precursor to later works by Jane Austen and Maria Edgeworth, whose novels explore many of the same issues. (from Evelina’s Wikipedia entry, modified by ettelocin) (15 hr 52 min)
Chapters
Reviews
Lovely! intriguing plot.
Bridget E.
in a mood for Austin and Bronte but having exhausted those venues, I was so excited to hear about how Fanny Burney was not only roughly contemporary with and similar to, but actually also inspired Austin's own works (there is a definite sense of Northanger Abbey in the beginning of the book, though this heroine is a little more inspirational and easier to sympathize with). I was not disappointed and it will be pursuing all of her other books. the narrative style the entire book written through correspondence was fine, and I loved how there were different readers for each character writing the letters. Elizabeth Klett is my favorite reader in any LibriVox book and she does a fantastic job with the many characters described by the heroine.
Wonderfully Read
Hospitable Georgian
Do not be put off by the original preface which is the first thing you hear when listening to this book. Her style of writing the book itself is completely different and much easier to listen to. The cast of characters that Fanny Burney depicts in her book range from the sweetest to the most ridiculous to the most obnoxious. It is a long but enjoyable read.
Great way of organizing the readings
Caitlin
I appreciated that each of the narrators only read letters that were written by the same character. It was a clever way of having several readers while making the narration feel consistent. The story itself was good as well. The characters and their motives are straightforward but still entertaining. I can definitively see how later writers such as Austen were influenced by Burney’s works
Deborah Isaacson
Thank you readers! I appreciate you!!
Superb Reading, Good Story
TwinkieToes
I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Elizabeth Klett does the majority of the reading, and does it in her faultless way. The other readers are good enough. The story might have been a bit predictable, but it had a couple little twists that kept things interesting.
very interesting, very well read.
Nev Abrom
the story duels sometimes very long upon distressing situations Evelina passes through and that was a little too much at the moment, but in the end it all makes sence and have a beautiful ending.
Early Romance, Drags a Bit
TLocke
Using multiple voices for each character's letters works well. Language is a bit florid and exaggerated to today's ears, but in best romance, they (almost) live happily ever after.
The funniest and wisest book
Sania
It is a very good book, it made me an addict。It produces real joy and sactisfaction onthe reader。itwas impossible not to laugh as it was so interesting andfunny。