D'ARBLAY, FRANCES BURNEY ( 1752 1840). An English novelist. She was a daugh ter of Charles Burney. a musician, and was born at King's Lynn, June 13, 1752. Eight years later the Burneys removed to London. At the famous musical assemblies given by her father, Miss Burney saw, from the outside, fashionable life, and this she depicted with spirit and humor in her first novel, Evelina (1778). No novel since Clarissa Harlowe attracted more notice. It was read by Burke, Reynolds, and Johnson, and lav ishly praised. This brilliant success was fol lowed by Cecilia (1782), which, though not so fresh as Erelina, and a little heavy, had a large sale. In 1786 Miss Burney was appointed second keeper of the robes to Queen Charlotte. Disliking the service, she resigned her position live years later. While visiting her sister at Mickleham, she became acquainted with a French refugee, General d'Arblay, whom she married in 1793. The rest of her life was passed partly in
England and partly in France. She published two other novels, Comilla (1796) and The Wan derer (1814), neither of which is readable. A play of hers, Edwy and Elvina, was performed in 1795, and was unsuccessful, though Sirs. Sid dons and Kemble took the leading parts. She also published memoirs of her father (1832), written in an affected style resembling her last novels. She died January 6, 1810. In 1842-46 appeared her interesting Leiters and Diaries, a section of which seems to have been used by Thaekeray for his Waterloo scene in Fair. .Aliss Burney's first two novels mark the begin ning of the novel of domestic life, and prepared the way for Maria Edgeworth and Jane Austen. Consult Macaulay, Essays.