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| Angelina. A Novel. In a Series of Letters |
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(Review /
Angelina: a Novel, by
Mary Robinson)
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Analytical Review, 1796 |
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vol 23 p293-94 |
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Our readers, we doubt not, will be pleased to see, that we are indebted for Angelina to the elegant pen of Mrs R. To the merit of the author, as a poet and a novelist, we have already, on several occasions, born our testimony; and we conceive that the production, which is now before us, will in no respect detract from her well-earned reputation. Unwilling by anticipation to diminish the pleasure which our readers may receive from the perusal of these volumes, we forbear to enter on the subject of the piece. We shall only observe, that it's [sic] principal object is to expose the folly and the iniquity of those parents who attempt to compel the inclinations of their children into whatever conjugal connections their mercenary spirit may choose to prescribe, and to hold forth to just detestation the cruelty of those, who scruple not to barter a daughter's happiness, perhaps through life, for a sounding title or a glittering coronet. The characters in the piece are in general naturally pourtrayed and distinctly marked. The most prominent figure, though the novel bears the name of Angelina, is Sophia Clarendon, a young lady of amiable disposition, and highly accomplished. Her father, sir Edward, a rich city merchant, is a perfect picture of gothic ignorance and barbarity, combined with that pride of wealth, and contemptible ambition, which characterize low and vulgar minds. Belmont, a young man, who had been educated as an orphan, and on whom Sophia places her affections, is distinguished by the ardency of a reciprocal attachment, the nicest sense of honour, an enlightened mind, with a generous and undaunted spirit. His rival, lord Acreland, though chargeable with some enormous errours, is, notwithstanding, a character rather weak than vicious, - the dupe of the malignant machinations of his sister lady Selina. In the portrait of Angelina we behold an assemblage of almost every excellence which can adorn the female mind, beaming mildly through [294] clouds of affliction and melancholy. Her situation will interest the feelings of the reader, and the disclosure of her history and character forms an agreeable and important scene in the catastrophe. The sentiments contained in these volumes are just, animated, and rational. They breathe a spirit of independence, and a dignified superiority to whatever is unessential to the true respectability and genuine excellence of human beings. The story, though it will not greatly rouse or deeply agitate, is yet sufficiently interesting to excite and prolong the attention of the reader; and the phraseology is at once correct and appropriate. There is one errour however, of which, though to some it may appear trifling, we deem it our duty to admonish the author. The errour we allude to is writing 'laying' for 'lying,' and confounding the active with the neuter verb, which she has oftener than once committed.
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