The History of Miss Betsy Thoughtless

Eliza Haywood

Description

The History of Miss Betsy Thoughtless (1751) is a novel by Eliza Haywood. Blending tragedy and comedy, Haywood explores the intersection of ambition, family, and desire to reveal how women so often fall victim to the whims of men. The History of Miss Betsy Thoughtless has been recognized as one of the first novels in English literature to depict the development of an independent heroine, as well as to move away from the more popular genre of amatory fiction toward the marriage plot. Widely read in the eighteenth century, Haywood influenced such authors as Fanny Burney and Jane Austen. Having completed her education at an all-girls boarding school, Betsy Thoughtless moves to the city of London. For the first time, she finds herself thrust into the orbit of young and marriageable men, whose attention and affections she craves, though remains cautious to reciprocate. Betsy knows the dangers inherent to sexual impropriety—pregnancy out of wedlock would all but guarantee her a life of poverty and misfortune, not to mention the shame it would bring to her aristocratic family. Despite these pressures, Betsy finds a way to enjoy single life while learning to recognize the signs of deceitful, unworthy men. When marriage does come, she soon realizes the institution is far from perfect. Unhappy, she grows as a person and looks for a way to regain her former independence. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Eliza Haywood’s The History of Miss Betsy Thoughtless is a classic of English literature reimagined for modern readers.

Sujets

• Classiques
• Tous les classiques
• Literary
• 18th century
• Fiction

Informations

• Publié par: Mint Editions
• Date de parution: 28 septembre 2021
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781513294421
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

The History of Miss Betsy Thoughtless
Eliza Haywood
 
The History of Miss Betsy Thoughtless was first published in 1751.
This edition published by Mint Editions 2021.
ISBN 9781513291574 | E-ISBN 9781513294421
Published by Mint Editions®
minteditionbooks.com
Publishing Director: Jennifer Newens
Design & Production: Rachel Lopez Metzger
Project Manager: Micaela Clark
Typesetting: Westchester Publishing Services
 
C ONTENTS V OLUME THE F IRST I.   Gives the reader room to guess at what is to ensue, though ten to one but he finds himself deceived II.   Shews Miss Betsy in a new scene of life, and the frequent opportunities she had of putting in practice those lessons she was beginning to receive from her young instructress at the boarding-school III.   Affords matter of condolence, or raillery, according to the humour the reader happens to be in for either IV.   Verifies the old proverb, that one affliction treads upon the heels of another V.   Contains nothing very extraordinary, yet such things as are highly proper to be known VI.   May be of some service to the ladies, especially the younger sort, if well attended to VII.   Is a medley of various particulars, which pave the way for matters of more consequence VIII.   Relates how, by a concurrence of odd circumstances, Miss Betsy was brought pretty near the crisis of her fate, and the means by which she escaped IX.   Contains such things as might be reasonably expected, after the preceding adventure X.   Gives the catastrophe of the Oxford ramble, and in what manner the young ladies returned to London XI.   Lays a foundation for many events to be produced by time, and waited for with patience XII.   Is little more than a continuance of the former XIII.   Contains some part of the history of Miss Forward’s adventures, from the time of her leaving the boarding-school, as related by herself to Miss Betsy XIV.   Concludes Miss Forward’s narrative, and relates some farther particulars of Miss Betsy’s behaviour, on hearing a detail she so little expected XV.   Brings many things on the carpet, highly pleasing to Miss Betsy, in their beginning, and no less perplexing to her in their consequences XVI.   Presents the reader with the name and character of Miss Betsy’s third lover, and also with someother particulars XVII.   Is of less importance than the former, yet must not be omitted XVIII.   Treats on no fresh matters, but serves to heighten those already mentioned XIX.   Will make the reader little the wiser XX.   Contains an odd accident, which happened to Miss Betsy in the cloysters of Westminster Abbey XXI.   Gives an explanation of the former, with other particulars, more agreeable to the reader in the repetition, than to the persons concerned in them XXII.   A duel begun, and another fought in the same morning, on Miss Betsy’s account, are here related, with the manner in which the different antagonists behaved to each other XXIII.   Among other things necessary to be told, gives an account of the success of a plot laid by Mr. Chatfree, for the discovery of Miss Betsy’s real sentiments V OLUME THE S ECOND I.   Will satisfy the reader’s curiosity in some points, and increase it in others II.   Contains some passages which, perhaps, may be looked upon as pretty extraordinary III.   Discovers to Miss Betsy a piece of treachery she little expected to hear of IV.   Has very little in it, besides a collection of letters, some of which are much to the purpose, others less so V.   Serves as a supplement to the former VI.   Seems to bring things pretty near a conclusion VII.   Is the better for being short VIII.   Contains some incidents which will be found equally interesting and entertaining, or the author is very much mistaken IX.   Is yet more interesting than the former X.   Cannot fail of exciting compassion in some readers, though it may move others to laughter XI.   Shews what effects the transactions of the preceding night had on the minds of Miss Betsy and Mr. Trueworth XII.   Contains some passages which, it is probable, will afford more pain than pleasure; yet which are very pertinent to the history, and necessary to be related XIII.   Is the recital of some accidents, as little possible to be foreseen by the reader as they were by the persons to whom they happened XIV.   Gives a full explanation of some passages which hitherto have seemed very dark and mysterious XV.   Shews some part of the consequences produced by the foregoing occurrence XVI.   Is a kind of olio, a mixture of many things, all of them very much to the purpose, though less entertaining than someothers XVII.   Contains only such things as the reader might reasonably expect to have been informed of before XVIII.   Is of very small importance, yet contains such things as the reader may expect to hear XIX.   Is multum in parvo XX.   Shews Miss Betsy left entirely to her own management, and the cause of it, with someother particulars XXI.   The author is under some apprehensions, will not be quite pleasing to the humour of every reader XXII.   Gives an account of a farther and more laudable motive to induce Mr. Trueworth to put off his intended journey into the country XXIII.   Returns to Miss Betsy’s adventures, from which the two former were but a digression, though a very necessary one, as will hereafter appear V OLUME THE T HIRD I.   Relates only to such things as the reader may reasonably expect would happen II.   Contains only some few particulars of little moment in themselves, but serve to usher in matters of more importance III.   Has somewhat more business in it than the former IV.   If it were not for some particulars, might be as well passed over as read V.   Seems to be calculated rather for the instruction than entertainment of the reader VI.   Shews the different operations of the same passion, in persons of different principles and dispositions VII.   May be called an appendix to the former, as it contains only some passages subsequent to the preceding occurrences VIII.   Is more full of business than entertainment IX.   Contains very little to the purpose X.   Contains an account of some transactions which, though they may not be very pleasing in the repetition, nor are of any great consequence to Miss Betsy, would render this history extremely deficient if omitted XI.   Is very well deserving the attention of all those who are about to marry XII.   Miss Betsy’s innocence, as to the Denham affair, fully cleared up to Mr. Trueworth by a very extraordinary accident XIII.   Seems to promise a very great change for the better, both in the humour and conduct of Miss Betsy, in regard to those who professed themselves her lovers XIV.   Shews that Miss Betsy, whenever she pleased to exert herself, had it in her power to be discreet, even on occasions the most tempting to her honour and inclinations XV.   The terrible consequence which may possibly attend our placing too great a dependance on persons whose principles we are not well assured of, are here exemplified in a notable act of villainy and hypocrisy XVI.   Will not tire the reader XVII.   Love in death; an example rather to be wondered at than imitated XVIII.   Displays Miss Betsy in her penitentials, and the manner in which she behaved after having met with so much matter for the humiliation of her vanity; as also some farther particulars, equally worthy the attention of the curious XIX.   Presents the reader with some occurrences which, from the foregoing preparations, might be expected, and also with others that may seem more surprizing XX.   Contains divers things XXI.   Presents the reader with some prognosticks, on events in futuro XXII.   Will prove, by a remarkable instance of a high-raised hope suddenly disappointed, the extreme weakness of building our expectations upon mere conjecture V OLUME THE F OURTH I.   Contains, among other particulars, an example of forgiving goodness and generosity, worthy the imitation of as many as shall read it II.   Is very full of business III.   Will not let the reader fall asleep IV.   Contains, among other particulars, certain bridal admonitions V.   Seems to demand, for more reasons than one, a greater share of attention than ordinary, in the perusal of it VI.   Contains a second matrimonial contest, of worse consequence than the former VII.   Gives an exact account of what happened in the family of Mr. Munden, after the lamentable and deplorable death of his lady’s favourite squirrel; with several other particulars, much less significant, yet very necessary to be told VIII.   Presents the reader with some passages which could not conveniently be told before, and, without all doubt, have been for a long time impatiently expected IX.   Contains the catastrophe of Lady Mellasin’s and her daughter Flora’s adventures while on this side the globe X.   Returns to the affairs of Mrs. Munden XI.   Contains some few particulars which followed the reconciliation XII.   Is only the prelude to greater matters XIII.   Contains what every reader of an ordinary capacity may, by this time, easily guess at XIV.   Contains a brief recital of several very remarkable, and equally affecting, occurrences, of which the last-mentioned extraordinary adventure was productive, and which may justly enough be looked upon as yet more extraordinary than even the adventure itself XV.   Contains such things as will be pleasing to those whose candid dispositions interest them in favour of the heroine of this history XVI.   Presents the reader, among many other particulars, with a full, though as concise an account as can be given, of the real quality and condition of the lady that Mrs. Munden had seen, and been so much charmed with, at the mercer’s XVII.   Is less entertaining than some of the former XVIII.   Contains a most shocking instance of infidelity and ingratitude XIX.   Relates such things as the reader will, doubtless, think of very great importance, yet will hereafter be found of much