Camilla
The struggling young family was saved from poverty in 1796 by the publication of Frances’ “courtesy novel” Camilla, or a Picture of Youth, a story of frustrated love and impoverishment. The first edition sold out; she made £1000 on the novel and sold the copyright for another £1000. This money was sufficient to allow them to build a house in Westhumble, which they called “Camilla Cottage”. Their life at this time was, by all accounts, a happy one, but the illness and death in 1800 of Frances’ sister, and close friend, Susanna overshadowed their contentment and brought to an end to a lifelong correspondence that had been the motive and basis for most of Burney’s journal writing. However, she resumed her journal writing at the request of her husband, for the benefit of her son.
Read more about this topic: Frances Burney