Frances Burney's "Evelina": The Book, its History, and its Paratext

The first novel by Frances Burney, Evelina, was published in 1778 and has since been through 174 editions, adaptations, and reprints. This book explores how the publishers have reshaped the novel's material embodiment in the form of the printed book, recasting its content for new generations of readers. It also focuses on the remodelling and transformation of the paratext in the novel by the heavily male-dominated publishing industry. Illustrated with reproductions of covers, frontispieces, and title pages, the book provides an illuminating insight into the role of Evelina's visual representation in its history as a marketable commodity.

Format: Hardback
Length: 285 pages
Publication date: 15 April 2023
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

Evelina, the captivating debut novel by Frances Burney, was first published in 1778 and has since enjoyed immense popularity among readers worldwide. Spanning a publication history of 174 editions, adaptations, and reprints, this book delves into the fascinating journey of how the material embodiment of the printed book has been reshaped by publishers, adapting its content to cater to new generations of readers.

The novel is divided into four main chapters that vividly depict the transformative journey of Evelina, a beloved novel of manners, over a span of 240 years. Despite minimal alterations to its text, it metamorphosed into a Regency "rambling" text, a romantic novel for "lecteurs délicats," a cheap imprint for circulating libraries, a yellow-back, a book with a certain aesthetic cachet, a Christmas gift-book, and finally, an integral part of the established literary canon in annotated scholarly editions.

Furthermore, this book explores the remodelling and transformation of the paratext in Evelina, written by a woman author within the heavily male-dominated publishing industry. Shorter Entracte sections delve into the alterations in Burney's name, the title of her work, the omission and renaming of her authorial prefaces, and the redeployment of the publishers prefatorial apparatus to support particular editions throughout nearly two and a half centuries of the novel's existence.

Illustrated with reproductions of covers, frontispieces, and title pages, the book offers an enlightening insight into the role of Evelina's visual representation in its history as a marketable commodity. It highlights the existence of editions targeting various segments of the book market, ranging from the upper-middle-class to mass readership.

This comprehensive and fully updated bibliography of English and translated editions of Evelina is a valuable resource for scholars, students, and enthusiasts of literature. It provides a thorough exploration of the novel's publication history, adaptations, and reception, shedding light on the enduring influence and popularity of this timeless masterpiece.

Weight: 544g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031177965
Edition number: 1st ed. 2023