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134 reviews for:

Belinda

Maria Edgeworth

3.59 AVERAGE

sarahdenn27's profile picture

sarahdenn27's review

3.0

It's hard to pinpoint exactly why I disliked this one because it was similar to Evelina, which I really liked. It just felt like this one had no plot and was just slow and dull.

demuise's review

3.0

I'm a sucker for Regency-era romances, and when I found out that this book was published when Jane Austen was 25, I couldn't resist. I was eager to see how Edgeworth influenced Austen. I especially see similarities to Sense and Sensibility, Northanger Abbey, and Mansfield Park. Belinda is actually referenced in Northanger Abbey:

"And what are you reading, Miss-?" "Oh! it is only a novel!" replies the young lady; while she lays down her book with affected indifference, or momentary shame. - "It is only Cecelia, or Camilla, or Belinda;" or, in short, only some work in which the greatest powers of the mind are displayed, in which the most thorough knowledge of human nature, the happiest delineation of its varieties, the liveliest effusions of wit and humour are conveyed to the world in the best chosen language.

So, yes, Austen admired this book! I do agree that it feels like it was written for "young lad[ies];" a popular romance loved by young women of the time. I also agree that it was written in "the best chosen language." The language is beautiful, witty, and utterly readable. I couldn't wait to sit down with my knitting and listen to this book.

However, the outdated morals, values, and societal norms portrayed in this book are simply heinous. I feel as though I have just hopped in a time machine and can see and understand exactly where so much of our own society’s patriarchal, racist, misogynistic, transphobic, and classist values stem from. Belinda is essentially a novel about morals, with the titular character being the shining example of virtue for all the hooligans and immoral characters around her. If the characters do not bend to her morals, they are banished from the book or punished. When characters do adhere to her morals, they are victorious and rewarded. Essentially, Belinda is not a real character. She has no faults, and therefore, no personality. She’s simply a moral compass. She makes a few mistakes in the beginning of the novel, but nothing that isn’t rectified within a chapter or two by her goodness.

Spoiler One of the most egregious parts of this book is when our hero, Clarence Hervey, decides that society women are too far gone in their own ways, ideas, and knowledge to tempt him. He wants to educate a girl from scratch so she can be a proper wife to him. He stumbles upon a young girl named Rachel – a child of 15 or 16, I think – in the forest. She has lived her whole life secluded from society with her paranoid grandmother who hasn’t let her even look at a man before. Oh, and she’s angelically beautiful – perfect for Clarence! When her grandmother dies, Clarence takes her in and “cares for her.” He changes her name from Rachel to Virginia because he doesn’t like the name Rachel. He enlists a governess and tells her to hurry up and educate Rachel/Virginia so she can be his wife. All the while, he keeps Rachel locked up in a house away from the polluting influence of other human beings. She belongs to him.

Rachel is terrified of Clarence. She’s scared she will displease him or seem ungrateful, and she puts her happiness and well-being in danger to ensure that he is happy. The whole thing is absolutely disgusting to me. The governess, Belinda, and Rachel’s father (who eventually returns and thankfully takes her away, but only after Clarence doesn’t want her anymore) all congratulate Clarence on the great job he did of educating Rachel and thank him for his generosity and kindness. In the end, Clarence, our accomplished groomer, is not punished. He gets to marry the girl he truly loves, Belinda, who accepts him without telling him that, perhaps, grooming Rachel was wrong.


Of note, these are some other things that Belinda deems immoral: gambling, crossdressing, dueling, fighting, drinking, swearing, being artful and/or deceitful, being a Jew, and gossiping. Yeah… Belinda the character is a bit dull – certainly not the most interesting or relatable heroine.

Unfortunately, the version I read was the 1810 version without the interracial marriage aspects that were deemed too controversial for the time. It would have been very interesting to see how this book, which is so backward to my 21st-century views, could have portrayed interracial marriage. Maybe one day I’ll read the 1801 version and find out.

Now that I've read this book I find that the author was an inspiration to Jane Austen and upon reflection I can see several instances of this in the story. Particularly in regards to Sense and Sensibility.

Belinda is really a very boring girl, she makes no mistakes, she's eminently proper and compassionate, she isn't witty and does nothing of interest to relieve the boredom. She is also smarter and morally superior to everyone she meets, managing to fix years long relationship problems in weeks and be a better judge of character than those who should know better. Maybe if she had taken all this and been an ardent feminist, I would have been able to like her but as it is, she is just the vehicle for the more interesting stories of those characters around her.
Lady Delacour provided much more vivacity to the story, though her constant raillery and non stop talking was perhaps a bit annoying. From a life of dissipation to a life of happy bliss, I actually hope that it is not all such a bed of roses, a life of domestic bliss really doesn't seem to be her style. What a lot of meddling she does and what an idiot in so many respects.
Clarence Hervey is the perfect man, except for a few missteps in regards to women, he seems to be able to do and be better than any other person alive. There is nothing he can't accomplish with ease and generosity, no matter its difficulty. Not my ideal man at all but then maybe a large fortune would win me over.
Mr. Vincent is a man of passion though he does seem to suffer from being a bit immature here and there.
The variety of spiteful society ladies and the antics they get up to is amusing, though often bizarre. Why would anyone want to hang out with them? I can't see the charm of being 'in society' with creatures such as these.

I thought the ending was a bit abrupt, the story is quite long and drawn out until the last 4 chapters when everything comes together exactly as it should, at least according to one busy body character.
heathssm's profile picture

heathssm's review

4.5
emotional hopeful reflective relaxing slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
challenging funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

3/2022 Esta era una de las novelas favoritas de Jane Austen y a mí se me ha atascado un poco, pero no era ella, he sido yo.

Me ha costado un poco entrar en el ritmo pausado de esta novela, tarda bastante en que empiecen a pasar cosas, pero alrededor del tercio ya salí del atasco y todo bien, teniendo en cuenta que no es una acción trepidante.

Pensaba todo el rato qué suerte no estar sujetas a tantísimas normas hechas solamente por aparentar y que me gustaría ver una adaptación.

Si os gustan las novelas de tacitas, dadle.

La traducción (maravillosa y llena de detalles) es de @noemijfurquet
saralynnburnett's profile picture

saralynnburnett's review

5.0

A VERY funny book about a young woman coming of age in (ridiculous) London society.

simthea's review

4.5
funny relaxing slow-paced

3.5 ☆ — read for university
margaretkearney's profile picture

margaretkearney's review

3.75
funny lighthearted slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot