Resumen
Resumen de Memoirs of Fanny Hill
Go deeper: the whole of Memoirs of Fanny Hill
About 5 h 30 min to read.Para quién es
Readers who love eighteenth century London, first-person confessions, and a heroine who tells her own story with wit. Anyone curious about how Fanny balances desire, money and respectability.
De qué trata este libro
An orphan of fifteen steps off a Chester wagon in London with a little money and a head full of fine sights. Within a day, a stranger has taken her in. Memoirs of Fanny Hill, by John Cleland, is the story of Frances Hill, told by herself in two letters to a lady. It follows her from poverty in Lancashire into the paid pleasures of the city. Our first idea starts where her troubles begin.
En este resumen
- 1An orphan sets out for LondonFree
- 2A kind mistress who runs a trap
- 3Curiosity and the house of learning
- 4Charles, the one true love
- 5Love is cut off and debt closes in
- 6Revenge, and a lesson in consequences
- 7Mrs Cole's academy and its stories
- 8What the book is really about
- 9How the letters are told
Idea clave 1 de 9
An orphan sets out for London
Fanny Hill begins as the only surviving child of a poor net maker and his wife near Liverpool. Her education is thin, and her virtue is mostly ignorance of vice. The book says plainly that innocence of this kind protects no one.
Smallpox kills both parents within days. A young woman named Esther Davis, home on a visit, talks up the plays, the king and the fine clothes of London. A woman who cares for Fanny sells her remaining belongings, and Fanny sets out with a small box, eight guineas and some silver.
At the London inn, Esther drops her with a cool goodbye, having made Fanny pay the travel costs. The girl is alone and has no one to ask. The first idea of the book is that a young woman with no family and little money is a target, and the city knows it.
That’s 1 of 9 key points.
The rest of the summary, written and spoken, and the whole book: free to start.
- Nothing to pay today · Renews every year
- We email you before you pay
- Cancel online in two clicks
Go deeper: the whole of Memoirs of Fanny Hill
About 5 h 30 min to read.Who’s who
- Fanny Hill
- A poor orphan who comes to London, Fanny narrates her experiences with Mrs Brown, Phoebe, and Charles.
- Mrs Brown
- Mrs Brown welcomes Fanny to London and offers her lodging while running a brothel.
- Phoebe
- Phoebe is an experienced woman in Mrs Brown's house who teaches Fanny how the establishment works.
- Charles
- Charles is a young man who becomes Fanny's lover, offering affection distinct from the business surrounding her.
About this edition
Every format is free to start, and print and large print are at cost.
- LengthAbout 85,000 words
- Reading timeAbout 5 h 40 min
- FormatseBook, large-print eBook, audiobook, 15-minute summary; paperback, hardcover and large print at cost
- LanguagesEnglish and 14 other languages
Questions about Memoirs of Fanny Hill
What is Memoirs of Fanny Hill about?
It follows Frances Hill, a poor country orphan who comes to London at fifteen and is drawn into a life of paid pleasure. She tells her story in two letters to a lady.
Who is Fanny Hill's true love in the book?
Charles, a young gentleman she meets in Mrs Brown's house, is the man Fanny loves with her whole heart. She insists she is faithful to him in feeling throughout their separation.
Who is Mrs Cole?
Mrs Cole is a well-bred madam in Covent Garden who becomes Fanny's guide. She runs a discreet house, gives financial advice and protects her girls from the worst dangers of the trade.
How is Memoirs of Fanny Hill told?
It takes the form of two letters from Frances Hill to a lady. Fanny looks back on her experiences and paints a lively picture of London life.
How does Fanny describe desire?
She describes sexual scenes in great detail through elaborate images rather than blunt terms. She draws on voyages, battles and trade to give her experiences their vivid style.