Frances Burney

Date of Birth: June 13, 1752

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Date of Death: January 6, 1840

Biography

Frances Burney, also known as Fanny Burney, was an English novelist, diarist, and playwright. She was born on June 13, 1752, in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, England. She is best known for her novels such as “Evelina” and “Cecilia,” which were highly influential in the development of the novel as a literary form in the 18th century. Burney’s writing is characterized by its satirical edge, keen social observation, and exploration of the lives of women in her time. Her father, Dr. Charles Burney, was a renowned musicologist, which provided her with a stimulating intellectual environment. Despite the era’s constraints on women writers, Burney managed to carve out a significant literary career. She also served as the second keeper of the robes to Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III, which gave her a unique perspective on court life. Burney’s later years were marked by her marriage to General Alexandre D’Arblay, with whom she had one son. She continued to write until her death on January 6, 1840.

5 Interesting Facts about Frances Burney

1. Frances Burney’s first novel, “Evelina,” was published anonymously in 1778 and became an instant success.

2. She underwent a mastectomy in 1811 without anesthesia, which she detailed in a famous letter that provides one of the most graphic accounts of early surgical procedures.

3. Burney’s diaries and letters are considered valuable historical documents, offering insights into 18th-century life and the Georgian court.

4. She was a close friend of Samuel Johnson, the famous lexicographer, and many other literary figures of her time.

5. Burney’s play “The Witlings” was never performed during her lifetime due to its critical portrayal of contemporary society, which her father advised against.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Frances Burney

1. “To despise riches, may, indeed, be philosophic, but to dispense them worthily, must surely be more beneficial to mankind.”

2. “Generosity without delicacy, like wit without judgment, generally gives as much pain as pleasure.”

3. “I am ashamed of confessing that I have nothing, or at least but little, to say.”

4. “The mind is ever ingenious in making its own distress.”

5. “I cannot be much pleased without an appearance of truth; at least of possibility.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Frances Burney’s net worth is not well-documented, but she achieved considerable success and recognition during her lifetime, which afforded her financial stability and social status.