Novelist and diarist. Fanny Burney later (Madame D’Arblay) was born in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, to Esther Sleepe Burney and music historian of some distinction,  Dr. Charles Burney. In 1760, the family moved to Poland street in London where a brilliant social circle would frequent,  which included David Garrick, Samuel Johnson, James Boswell and Edmund Burke. Her early diaries chronicle evenings spent in this cirle at home. Largely self-educated at home, her first novel “Evelina” was published anonymously in 1778. When her authorship was revealed she received much acclaim and was invited by Queen Charlotte to become the Queen’s second keeper of the robes, a role she accepted in 1786 although her health was not good. Her “Diary and Letters” (1778-1840), gives an interesting account of her period at court. However, her health was not up to the riqours of the position and , after some difficulty, she was given permission to retire, receiving a royal pension of £100 pounds per year  from Queen Charlotte’s private purse. She  published her second novel “Cecilia” in 1782 and “Camilla” in 1796, which was much admired by Jane Austen followed by “The Wanderer” (1814). On July 31 1793, she married General Alexandre D’Arblay, at Mickleham, Surrey, a French refugee in England, he fled France after the rise of Ropespierre. producing one son Alexandre, they built Camilla Cottege at Bookham, Surrey, and were very devoted to each other. During her lifetime Fanny Burney was best-known as a novelist, but the posthumous publications of her journals and letters led to a later characterization as an eighteen century observer and writer of character sketches. She is known as the originator of the simple novel of home life. (bio by: s.canning)