The Distress'd Orphan,: Or Love in a Mad-House (1726)

by Eliza Fowler Haywood

Genres: 18th Century, Romance

63 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1726

About the author

Eliza Haywood (1693 – 1756), born Elizabeth Fowler, was an English writer, actress and publisher. Since the 1980s, Eliza Haywood’s literary works have been gaining in recognition and interest. Described as “prolific even by the standards of a prolific age” (Blouch, intro 7), Haywood wrote and published over seventy works during her lifetime including fiction, drama, translations, poetry, conduct literature and periodicals. Haywood is a significant figure of the 18th century as one of the important founders of the novel in English. Today she is studied primarily as a novelist.

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whatever we currently find to complain about (and there are still legitimate woes for modern women), I am glad to be a female in the 21st century instead of Annilia's time.....BECAUSE THIS IS RIDICULOUS.
The most concerning parts to me:
1) The "liberties" you allow a man to take with you are....rewards you are obligated to give him for his doing you services or being a DECENT HUMAN BEING? Nope nope nope
2) Even when Marathon rescues Annilia, he is like "yeeeeah I'm a gracious guy, so I won't scold you for ignoring the advice I gave you that would have prevented this tragedy (advice which, in the form of a letter, had never reached her) and I love you so I won't even MENTION how inconvenient this rescue has been for me, or how much of a trial I have had looking for you and whining to my servants while you've been LOCKED IN AN INSANE ASYLUM"
3) Interesting how all her servants and friends just immediately believed she was crazy just because her uncle said so? And never suspected that he could be after her money?
4) She's 14 years old at the beginning of the novel, and 14 years old at the end of the novel. That means she is 14 years old. That means two years ago she was 12. Marathon fell in love with and married a 14 year old. Who is practically 12.

The whole idea of womanhood and "madness" is very strongly brought out in this novel and I want to read some writing about it because interesting

[Lara Nataliya · Rating 3 out of 5]

all the men in this book ARE pedophiles Annilia is 14.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

ugh i hate when my niece won’t participate in the elaborate cousin marriage plot i contrived solely to steal her money so i have to lock her in my evil jail >:(

[emily ⋆☾ *☭✼･ﾟ ♥⭒ · Rating 4 out of 5]

probably only liked so much because my professor was so enthusiastic about this woman. BUT j*nathan sw*ft was evil and cruel to her so for that, she has a special place in my heart.