Evelina Or The History Of A Young Ladys Entrance Into The World By F Burney

Written in the form of letters, this 1778 novel chronicles a young woman's transition from provincial life into the smart sets of London and a resort community near Bristol. A witty satire of 18th-century society, the story marks a significant precursor to the works of Jane Austen and Maria Edgeworth.

A work by turns hilarious and grim, "Evelina" tells the story of a young woman's education in the ways of the world; it vividly renders life in eighteenth-century England and remains a much-read classic

Evelina is the daughter of an English aristocrat, but is brought up in the country until her seventeenth birthday, because she is of dubious birth and unacknowledged. Once out in London and Bristol-Hotwells, Evelina learns through a series of humorous events how to navigate society, and a nobleman falls in love with her. This sentimental novel with its satirical remarks on society significantly influenced later, similar works, such as those by Jane Austen.