1784 3vol Cecilia Ou Memoires D'Une Heritiere Antiquarian Literature Books

1784 3vol Cecilia Ou Memoires D'Une Heritiere Antiquarian Literature BooksCecilia Ou Memoires D'Une HeritierePar L' Auteur D'EvelinaPublished by Chez Theophile Barrois Le Jeune Libraire: Paris 1784Presumed to be Volumes 1, 2 and 3 of a 5 Volume SetEnglish Translation: "Cecilia or Memoirs of an Heiress"General wear and fading to covers and spines with some damage to outer cover hinges as shown. Likely original covers with replaced outer spines in good condition with no loose pages. Covers holding strong and structural integrity of all books is sound. Pages are pleasantly age toned but predominantly clean with no foxing. Good condition overall. Note that this is volume 1, 2 & 3 of a presumed 5 volume set. Please study photos to understand condition. Happy to provide more photos on request.Size 17cm x 10.5cm x 3cm (x 3 vols)

1784 3vol Cecilia Ou Memoires D'Une Heritiere Antique French Literature Books

Cecilia Ou Memoires D'Une Heritiere

Par L' Auteur D'Evelina

Published by Chez Theophile Barrois Le Jeune Libraire: Paris 1784

Presumed to be Volumes 1, 2 and 3 of a 5 Volume Set

English Translation: " Cecilia or Memoirs of an Heiress"

"Cecilia, ou Mémoires d'une Héritière (Paris: Chez Théophile Barrois le Jeune, 1784) is the French translation of Frances Burney's celebrated English novel Cecilia, or Memoirs of an Heiress (first published in 1782). This three-volume work follows the trials of Cecilia Beverley, a young, wealthy orphan whose inheritance is bound by restrictive conditions that compel her to marry a man who will take her surname. Burney uses Cecilia's story to explore the moral, social, and financial entanglements of 18th-century English society, offering a vivid portrayal of the challenges faced by women constrained by patriarchal laws, social expectation, and the mercenary values of marriage. Through Cecilia's encounters with a variety of characters—ranging from kind mentors to opportunistic suitors—Burney paints a rich satirical panorama of class manners, moral hypocrisy, and female virtue under pressure.

The French edition brought Burney's themes of virtue, independence, and moral integrity to a continental audience already fascinated by the sentimental and moral novel. Rendered in elegant French prose, it reflects Enlightenment interests in sensibility and moral education, while retaining Burney's sharp wit and psychological realism. The novel's influence extended beyond literature: it is famously credited with inspiring Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice (its phrase "pride and prejudice" appears in Burney's original text). As both a moral study and a social critique, Cecilia ou Mémoires d'une Héritière stands as a landmark in the transition from the sentimental novel to the more psychologically complex fiction that would dominate the 19th century."

General wear and fading to covers and spines with some damage to outer cover hinges as shown. Likely original covers with replaced outer spines in good condition with no loose pages. Covers holding strong and structural integrity of all books is sound. Pages are pleasantly age toned but predominantly clean with no foxing. Good condition overall. Note that this is volume 1, 2 & 3 of a presumed 5 volume set. Please study photos to understand condition. Happy to provide more photos on request.