Frances Burney facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frances Burney
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Frances "Fanny" Burney influenced many people with her books and talent at writing.
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| Born | 13 June 1752 |
| Died | 6 January 1840 |
| Resting place | Walcot Cemetery, Bath |
Frances Burney (born June 13, 1752 – died January 6, 1840) was a famous English writer. She wrote novels, diaries, and plays. People often called her Fanny Burney. After she got married, she was known as Madame d’Arblay.
Frances was born in King's Lynn, England. Her father, Dr. Charles Burney, was a musician. Her mother was Esther Sleepe Burney. Frances mostly taught herself how to write. She started writing her "scribblings" when she was just ten years old.
Her first novel, Evelina, came out in 1778. This book made her very famous! Her next novel, Cecilia, was published in 1782. It was even more popular with critics. Her main novels, Evelina, Cecilia, and Camilla, are about smart and pretty young girls. These girls don't have much experience in the world. As they go through life, they learn and grow. Famous writer Jane Austen enjoyed her books.
In 1786, Frances became the Second Keeper of the Robes for Queen Charlotte. She wrote many journals and letters. These writings are very interesting to historians today. In 1793, she married a French man named General Alexandre D'Arblay. They had one son, Alexander, in 1794.
Frances lived in France from 1802 to 1812. During this time, she wrote The Wanderer. This novel was about the French Revolution. It was published in 1814. Her last published work was the Memoirs of Doctor Burney (1832). Frances Burney died in London on January 6, 1840. She was buried in Bath, near her husband and son.
Contents
Frances Burney's Family Life
Frances Burney was born on June 13, 1752, in King's Lynn. She was baptized on July 7. She had older brothers and sisters: Ester (Hetty) and James. Her younger siblings were Susanna Elizabeth, Charles, and Charlotte Ann.
Susanna Elizabeth became Frances's very close friend. Her brother James Burney became an admiral. He sailed with Captain James Cook on his second and third voyages. Her younger brother Charles was a scholar. Her younger half-sister, Sarah Burney, also became a novelist.
Her Mother, Esther Sleepe Burney
Frances's mother, Esther Sleepe Burney, was three years older than her father. Esther died in 1760. Historians describe her as a kind and smart woman. It's possible that her mother's French background influenced Frances's writing. For example, the arguments between Madame Duval and Captain Mirvan in Evelina might have been inspired by this. It could also be why Frances loved and married Alexandre D'Arblay.
Frances was very sad when her mother died. A neighbor, Mrs. Pringle, said she had "never saw such affliction" and that Fanny was "almost killed with crying." Her father, Charles Burney, was also very unhappy. He wrote sad poems about his wife.
Her Father, Charles Burney
Frances's father was a respected and well-educated musician. He wanted to show that a musician could be a gentleman. Frances often met many famous people at her father's house. These included opera singers, dancers, musicians, and actors. She wrote about actor David Garrick in Evelina: "Well may Mr. Garrick be so celebrated, so universally admired—I had not any idea of so great a performer...every look speaks!"
Frances saw more of the world than most young ladies of her time. She wrote down many interesting things people said in her diaries.
Her Stepmother
In October 1767, Frances's father married a wealthy widow named Elizabeth Allen. She already had three sons. The Burney children did not like their stepmother very much. Frances's older sister, Hester, married her cousin in 1770. She probably did this to move out of the house. This meant Frances lost a sister who was like a second mother to her.
Her Education and Learning
Frances's father educated her sisters Esther and Susanna more than Frances. When Frances was eight, she still hadn't learned the alphabet. She was also very shy. Visitors at her father's house called her the "old lady." Some experts think she might have had a kind of dyslexia. Her brother used to play tricks on her. He would pretend to teach her to read by giving her a book upside-down! Frances didn't realize it was upside-down and tried to read it.
Her sister Susanna said that Fanny had "sense, sensibility, and bashfulness (shyness)." She also worried that Fanny was "too reserved."
Around 1763 or 1764, a family friend named Samuel "Daddy" Crisp became close to the Burney family. He encouraged Frances to write. He asked her to send him many journal-letters about her family and her life. He greatly influenced her writing.
Frances Burney's Important Works
Frances Burney d'Arblay created a new style of English novel. She wrote about important events, from King George III's illness to what happened after the Battle of Waterloo. She also wrote comedies that influenced many future writers.
For example, Jane Austen found the theme and the title for her famous book Pride and Prejudice in the last chapter of Frances Burney's novel Cecilia. William Makepeace Thackeray, who wrote Vanity Fair, was also influenced by Burney.
Her first novel, Evelina, was a new kind of fiction in English. It showed women in society in realistic, modern ways. This was called the "novel of manners." She showed the customs and behaviors of polite society. She also had a good sense of humor about funny things and respected traditional ways.
Frances Burney was the first woman to make writing novels "respectable." Her second novel, Cecilia, published in 1782, was an even bigger success with critics. Her third novel, Camilla, was very popular. It sold four times as many copies as Evelina and almost twice as many as Cecilia.
Images for kids
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Evelina, Volume II, 4th edition (1779)
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Print of 1782
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Bodleian Libraries, Playbill of Drury Lane Theatre, Tuesday, March 10, 1795, announcing The merchant of Venice &c.
See also
In Spanish: Frances Burney para niños
