Idalia

Book excerpt: Idalia: Or, The Unfortunate Mistress (1723) is a novel by Eliza Haywood. Blending tragedy and comedy, Haywood explores the intersection of ambition, family, and desire to reveal how women so often fall victim to the whims of villainous men. Idalia: Or, The Unfortunate Mistress is considered a prime example of the popular genre of amatory fiction, which often used love triangles to expose the imbalance between male and female desire in a patriarchal society. Idalia is a young woman at the center of Venetian social life. Having lost her mother at a young age, she lacks the guidance necessary for navigating the world of courtship. When her father rejects her suitor Florez, a handsome, rakish man, Idalia turns her attentions to Don Ferdinand, with whom she maintains a steady correspondence. When his friend Henriquez falls in love with her, the two men decide to fight for Idalia’s affections. Their duel ends in death for both men, leaving Idalia to turn her attentions elsewhere. Soon, she attempts to enter a convent in order to live chastely, beyond the reach of men. But the world has other plans. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Eliza Haywood’s Idalia: Or, The Unfortunate Mistress is a classic of English literature reimagined for modern readers.