Evelina

Before Austen, there was Evelina.

In this sparkling epistolary novel of manners, seventeen-year-old Evelina Anville steps into London society for the first time. Illegitimate and unknown, she must navigate a world of suitors, scandals, and social traps with only her instinct and integrity to guide her.

First published in 1778, Evelina made Fanny Burney one of the most important literary voices of the late 18th century. With sharp wit, psychological insight, and subtle social critique, Burney crafts a heroine who feels remarkably modern—and a narrative that still delights.

This edition, edited by C.S. Bleecker, is based on the public domain version credited to Harry Lund, and is thoughtfully updated for clarity, beauty, and historical fidelity.

A must-read for lovers of Jane Austen, period fiction, and the origins of the modern English novel.