Friday, March 20, 2009
RANDOM ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA
D'ARBLAY, Madame- 1752-1840 frances Burney, daughter of charles burney, D Mass., was b at Lym Regis, norfolk. mother esther sleepe. (some french). in 1760, Burneys moved to london;(semi colon!) + in 1761, mom died leaving 6 kids, fanny the 3rd + 9 yrs. her sisters xsent to school, but she was never given any instruction. at 10, she had taught herself to read and write + became an incessant scribbler of prose + verse + ardent about reading. 6 yrs later Dr. pa remarried, + from her 15th yr fanny lived in the midst of a brilliant social circle, gathered at father's house, leicester fields, including musicians, actors, + literary men + aristocratic patrons. her step-mom, although spirited + sensible woman, did not encourage fanny, which she thought unfeminine. fanny, then 18?(15?) burnt all her manuscripts, including "the history of carolineevelyn" a prequel to her 1st published 'evelina', began her famous diary, which lasted her 72 years. E pub in 1778, when 26, which was well recieved. Johnson praised her work! miss B introduced to mrs montagu + the bas-bleus, to sheridan + more. mostly Johnson + boswell jealous. 2nd book Cecilia, or memoirs of a heiress in 5 vol in 1782. 186 obtained the post of 2nd keeper of the robes to Queen Charlotte, consort of George III for $200, from 34-39, attended to the queen's toilettes, take care of her lap dog + snuff box, + to read to her now + then, + preside over the tea-table of the equeries. her diaries + letters' amusing court gossip: but the post was an uncongenial one + quit in 1791 for ill-health. w/ £100 pension. king saying 'is but her due; she has given up 5 yrs of her pen'. in 1793 married M. d'arblay, a french officer of artillary, who, w/ madame stal, tallyrand, + other refugees, lived at "juniper hall". published pamphlet on emigrant french clergy. her only child. the rev A D'Arblay b in 1994. 3rd novel 'camilla, or a picture of youth' in 5 vol. 1795. 1802-1812 madame in france w/ hubby + son. in 1814 pub 'the wanderer or female difficulties', 5 vol, a relative failure. in france + belgium during war, 1814-1815, hubby marechal de camp, which he was under louis XVI, back to E, + G D'ablay died in bath in 1818.
in sir walter scott's diary for 11/18/1826, he describes being taken to see Madame d + says, "i have been introduced to madame d'arblay. the celebrated authoress of evalina + cecilia, -an elderly lady w/ no remains of personal beauty, but of countenance, + apparently quick feelings." in 1832 pub the memoir of her father who died in 1814, d 1840, 88.
MD was not remarkable for personal beauty, she was small, retiring, + rather prudish, delighting to be lionized, while she dreaded nothing more than to be thought unfeminine or eccentric. her styleconsidered remarkable for its sprightliness + humor. her best tho in journal + letters. self-sonscious + egotism.
