Anna St. Ives, first published in 1792, is a novel of radical ideas, contrasting the irresponsible hedonism of the upper classes with the new ideals of enlightened rationalism. It was one of many novels appearing in the decade after the French Revolution which reflect the conflict of ideas within England at the time. The story concerns the difficulties of Anna St. Ives, the enlightened daughter of a traditionally-minded landowner, in choosing between two suitors. The one who is acceptable to her family is Coke Clifton, a gay, witty, and unprincipled man-of-the-world. The one whose outlook is closer to her own is Frank Henley, the son of her father's scheming steward. The action includes abduction and near-rape before virtue and reason triumph in a way beneficial to all three main characters.
Anna St. Ives
