London: Henry Colburn by his successors Hurst and Blackett, 1854. Hardcover. A New Edition. This is a lovely set of Frances Burney's diaries and letters, written from her early 20s and continuing almost until her death. Frances Burney (1752-1840), also known as Fanny Burney and later Madame d'Arblay, was a popular English satirical novelist, diarist and playwright. The first of her four novels, Evelina (1778), had the best success and remains best regarded. Her charming diaries and letters display her skill as a writer and are almost novelisitic, capturing conversations and offering much commentary on people and places of her time. Bound in three quarter reddish-brown leather with red cloth boards. With raised spine bands with titling and ornaments to compartments. The spines are sunned and there is light wear to spine and cover edges. Hinges somewhat tender. Top edges gilt. Interior pages are clean. With a facsimile fold-out letter in Volume I and frontispiece portraits in the other volumes. Very good condition. Size: 4.5 x 7 inches. Volume I: 378 pages; Volume II: 368 pages; Volume III: 381 pages; Volume IV: 356 pages; Volume V: 376 pages; Volume VI: 322 pages; Volume VII: 318 pages including general index. LIT/101921. Very Good. More