Life summary: The daughter of a musician, and sister to several novelists, Burney grew up in an artistic family. She was educated at home from her father's library. She served in Queen Charlotte's court before marrying General Alexandre D'Arblay, a former French military officer. She gave birth to one son, and lived in London at the end of her life.
Major Works: Evalina, Camilla, Cecilia, The Wanderer, or Female difficulties
Place in Life/Social Context: While not born to an aristocratic family, she was able to obtain a higher status in her service to Queen Charlotte. Her writing brought much needed money to the family, letting them settle into a comfortable living in Westhumble, England.
18th Century Lit. Importance: Burney's writing style captured the attention of many readers as the novel format became popular. Her writings have become a historical account of the complex social layers within the culture.
She often drew from her own experience to relate to her audiences, according to Margaret Doody: "The story of Frances Burney's works is deeply involved also with the story of her life. We cannot fully appreciate what she has achieved until we have some idea of what she experience" (Doody 9). Burney's novels helped to shape the literary world in which Austen and other would write in the 19th century.