Fantomina Book Reviews

Fantomina by Eliza Haywood Book Summary

Fantomina, or, Love in a Maze is a novella by Eliza Haywood which charts an unnamed female protagonist’s pursuit of the charming, shallow Beauplaisir. Dealing with major themes such as identity, class and sexual desire, and first published in 1725, Fantomina subverts the popular ‘persecuted maiden’ narrative, and reaches a climax which would have shocked its contemporary readership.

Moving to London, a young woman – let’s call her Fantomina – meets a dashing man at the theatre. After a short, but intense, fling, Beauplaisir grows bored of Fantomina, and leaves her. Outraged that she should be so treated, Fantomina discards her disguise in favour of another, and sets off in hot pursuit of her victim, and a game of cat and mouse begins.

This edition features an introduction by Dr Sarah R. Creel, Bethany E. Qualls and Dr Anna K. Sagal of the International Eliza Haywood Society.

‘[It] is right to deplore “Haywood’s invisibility to modern political historians”, but now we see her in focus, she matters for the imaginative power of her writing.’ — Thomas Keymer, London Review of Books

‘Haywood’s place in literary history is equally remarkable and as neglected, misunderstood and misrepresented as her oeuvre.’ — Paula R. Backscheider

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Fantomina (Eliza Haywood) Book Reviews 2024

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