Freda's Place

Mrs. Piozzi requests the pleasure of your company at 5:30 PM Thursday, 14 May, for a very special literary evening at her home in Second Life.  Mrs. Piozzi will present the  chatelaine of The Haven in Bordeaux. Mlle. Lorsagne de Sade,  the notorious Marquise' notorious daughter, will present  "An Unfortunate Mother's Advice to Her Absent Daughters," penned in 1761 by Lady Sarah Pennington.  Mlle. de Sade hopes this literary work will lead to thoughtful and provocative conversation among those gathered on Mrs. Piozzi's terrace in Rocca Sorrentina.  Time allowing, Mlle. de Sade will also share selections from "The Complete Letters of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu" (1753)

9 January 1785 The Haven, France My Dearest Sister Hetty, It breaks my heart to read the news of the great man's passing.  I shall miss him for the rest of my days!   As I write these words, I hear him chuckling.  "But of course you will miss me," he says.  I'm not the sort of man one forgets easily.  I promise to haunt you for as long as haunting seems called for."  This is said in that lilting and teasing tone of his, the tone that says, " You will move on, Fanny, when you are ready," and at the same time says, " You won't know who to be without me, my girl, so you'd better not move on at all!"    For myself, I think the second statement to contains the purer truth.  Dr. Johnson is, to great degree, the person who taught me who I am meant to be.  He is certainly the one who reminded me most frequently and most succinctly when I have not lived up to my own potential.  I do not believe there will ever be a day in my...

  Fanny's Virtual Diary and Letters are FICTIONAL.  They are also my sole property.  Fanny Burney's Virtual Diary and Letters are copyright (C) Stephanie Mesler 2014.  You may not republish these virtual diary entries and letters in any form.   24 December, 1782 Haven, France Dearest Father, There is not time for me to write as much as I would like.  One of Lorsagne's servants is soon to post our letters and I want to be sure you receive this as soon as is possible.  Rest easy knowing your eldest daughter has arrived safely at The Haven.  Lorsagne is, as one would expect, a gracious and generous hostess and I am so very pleased to be again in her company.  Your manuscript was well received by the monsignor and he sends his regards as well as payment in full.  He had already played through the composition before my departure and was most pleased indeed.   He will be playing it tonight for a crowded Christmas E...

8 December, 178? Dearest Friend, Lorsagne, Oh my dearest companion, how I have missed you these last months.  While I have been overjoyed at being home in London with Father and Susan and Hetty-- and while it has been good to see Dr. Johnson, though I am afraid I have to report that dear man has not been well of late, especially since that woman's departure.  He must feel adrift for lack of her presence and support.  I know it might seem I am jealous of her, but I assure you the opposite is the case.  Or was in the past.  Hopefully, now that she has run off to Italy with that new husband, she finds herself more focused on herself and him than on me and the foibles that she perceives in my character.  In the meantime, I am happy to report I shall soon be in France and very near your home!  I am to deliver some work of father's to a monk set to translate his words into flawless French for publication across the channel.  Father himself is u...