The ExcursionUniversity Press of Kentucky, 1997 - 181 pages Written for the very audience it portrays, this novel introduces the heroine, Maria Villiers, to London's "gentle" society and its glittering pastimes. Brooke drew upon the English courtship novel in the tradition of Eliza Haywood, Henry Fielding, and Frances Burney for her novel's overarching plot structure. But instead of concentrating on Maria's romantic adventures, she experiments with unusual treatments of subplots and unconventional characters. The most interesting aspect of her story is the development of Maria's ambition to win fame and fortune as a writer; it is one of the few portraits of a woman with literary ambitions by an early woman writer. Brooke's wry narrative voice foreshadows that of Jane Austen. The second volume in the series Eighteenth-Century Novels by Women, The Excursion contributes to our understanding of the development of the novel and offers a lively view of women's position in eighteenth-century English society. The editors' introduction places The Excursion firmly in the tradition of the English novel, provides a fresh biography of Brooke, and brings together the most important eighteenth- and twentieth-century criticism of Brooke's work. |
Contents
Acknowledgments | vii |
Chronology | xlvii |
Preface to the Second Edition I | 1 |
Copyright | |
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acquaintance admiration Alexander Pope amiable amused appeared attention beauty Belfont blushed Book bosom Brooke Brooke's chaise CHAP Chapter character charms David Garrick dear Dorignon Dormer edition Edmond Hoyle English epistolary novels Excursion expence eyes fashionable felt female Frances Frances Brooke Frances Burney French garden Garrick genius give Hammond Hannah Cowley happy Hardy's heart Henry Fielding Herbert heroine honour human idea John knew Lady Blast Lady Hardy Lady Julia Lady Sophia letter Lincolnshire literary London Lord Claremont Lord Melvile lordship Louisa madam manner Maria marriage marry Mary Mary Ann Yates McMullen Melvile's merit Merrick mind Miss Villiers Montague morning nature never novel observed opera party passion perhaps play pleasure politeness present Press reader respect retired returned Review Riccoboni Samuel Richardson sensibility sentiment sister smile surprize tender theatre thousand town tragedy translation Univ Villiers's virtue woman women writers writing wrote young