Fantomina

<p class=ql-align-justify><em>Fantomina or Love in a Maze</em> is a novella by Eliza Haywood which charts an unnamed female protagonist's pursuit of the charming shallow Beauplaisir. Dealing with major themes such as identity class and sexual desire and first published in 1725 <em>Fantomina</em> subverts the popular 'persecuted maiden' narrative and reaches a climax which would have shocked its contemporary readership.</p><p class=ql-align-justify><br></p><p class=ql-align-justify>Moving to London a young woman - let's call her Fantomina - meets a dashing man at the theatre. After a short but intense fling Beauplaisir grows bored of Fantomina and leaves her. Outraged that she should be so treated Fantomina discards her disguise in favour of another and sets off in hot pursuit of her victim and a game of cat and mouse begins.</p><p class=ql-align-justify><br></p><p class=ql-align-justify>This edition features an introduction by Dr Sarah R. Creel Bethany E. Qualls and Dr Anna K. Sagal of the International Eliza Haywood Society.</p>