Evelina

Evelina, published in 1778, is Fanny Burney’s debut novel and a foundational work in the English sentimental tradition. Presented in the form of letters, the novel follows the young and naive Evelina Anville as she navigates London society for the first time. Through comic misunderstandings, romantic entanglements, and social faux pas, Burney critiques class, manners, and the limited roles available to women. Her wit and keen observation paved the way for writers like Jane Austen, and Evelina remains a lively, insightful portrait of 18th-century society.