The young man and his two sisters are boorish, superficial, and unkind. The two are in the constant company of the Branghton family, kinsmen of Madame Duval. Before they leave Howard Grove, Madame Duval is tortured by Captain Mirvan and Sir Clement (who endears himself to the Captain in order to be close to Evelina) via a staged robbery and assault on the old woman.Įvelina travels to London with her grandmother. She also proposes that they attempt to secure Evelina's inheritance from Sir John Belmont through a lawsuit, but Mr. Villars to allow Evelina to return with her for a month in London away from the Mirvans. The group returns to Howard Grove for a short time before Madame Duval forces Mr. Madame Duval is an obnoxious presence who quarrels constantly with Captain Mirvan, to the point where Evelina's London life grows tiresome. She encounters him frequently in London, but is much harassed by another nobleman named Sir Clement Willoughby, who is charming but also immoral, disrespectful, and libidinous.ĭuring her stay in London, Evelina's maternal grandmother, a brassy and outspoken Frenchwoman named Madame Duval, finds Evelina and pushes herself into her granddaughter's life. Being very diffident, she has little to say, but he is charmed nonetheless. She then agrees to dance with another man whose appearance and manner pleases her more – Lord Orville. There, her ignorance and delicacy are made manifest when she declines to dance with a Mr.

Mirvan's husband, Captain Mirvan, who had returned from seven years at sea.Įvelina writes of her adventures in London – her trips to the theater, her promenades and shopping outings, and her first time at an assembly. Mirvan, and her granddaughter, Miss Maria Mirvan (who was Evelina's age) take Evelina to London to reunite with Mrs. She knows the particulars of her background, but uses the name 'Anville' to escape public scrutiny. Villars gives his consent, and Evelina travels to Howard Grove.

Villars to allow the sweet and innocent Evelina to spend time with her family. A friend of the family, Lady Howard, asks Mr. Her mother had died and her father ( Sir John Belmont) had refused to acknowledge her, so she is being raised by her guardian, the Reverend Mr. The novel, told in a series of letters by different characters, begins with a discussion of the young Evelina's past.

Evelina by frances burney