The Witlings
by Fanny Burney


Banned Books

Synopsis

Frances Burney’s 1779 play The Witlings is a classic comedy of manners coupled with a satiric take on London literary society. Wealthy Lady Smatter is the president of the Esprit Party, a small and select group of literary aficionados, dedicated to the study and spirit of poetry. She and friend Mrs. Sapient spend most of their time fawning over the verse of Mr. Dabler--even though his poetry is absolutely terrible, “the most fantastic absurdity under heaven.” Lady Smatter is also in charge of a wealthy orphan, Cecilia Stanley, whose fortune is secured within a London bank. And she controls the inheritance of her nephew, Beaufort, who is engaged to marry Cecilia. The match is all set, the workers in Mrs. Wheedle’s milliner shop are almost finished with the bridal caps … until Cecilia is suddenly broke. To maintain decorum and society, Lady Smatter forbids the marriage between her nephew and a penniless young woman, leading to hysterics and hijinks. But all is resolved by Beaufort’s sensible friend Censor, who steps in to save the day.

The novelist suppressed this satirical play in deference to the two father figures in her life. Worried that it would offend powerful society figures, her father recommended withholding it, and the now forgotten author and family friend Samuel Crisp suggested that she “write no more.” Filial duty and notions of proper feminine conduct spurred Burney to this and other acts of self-censorship. She wrote: “I would a thousand times rather forfeit my character as a writer, than risk ridicule or censure as a female.”

📖 The Witlings

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