Maria Edgeworth 
Belinda 

When Belinda Portman, an accomplished and gentle young woman, is sent to live with the witty and charming Lady Delacour, the two quickly develop a close and affectionate bond. With Lady Delacour’s support, Belinda learns to navigate London’s complex and challenging society, contends with suitors for her hand in marriage, and discovers who is worthy of her trust, and ultimately, her heart. Belinda was author Maria Edgeworth’s first full-length novel, and was originally serialized in three volumes. Populated with witty and intelligent female characters, Belinda explores issues of gender, courtship, and race, and is believed to have served as inspiration for later authors’ strong female characters, like those of Jane Austen, William Makepeace Thackeray, and Ivan Turgenev. Harper Perennial Classics brings great works of literature to life in digital format, upholding the highest standards in ebook production and celebrating reading in all its forms. Look for more titles in the Harper Perennial Classics collection to build your digital library.