Love in Excess (ePub)

Eliza Haywood (c.1693-1756) was a prolific writer, actress, and a significant figure in the development of the English novel. Haywood's literary output was remarkable for its variety and volume, comprising over seventy works during her career, including novels, plays, and periodicals. Her writing was characterized by its spirited portrayal of female experience and its forthright advocacy for women's rights and education, a contentious position in the 18th century. 'Love in Excess' (1719-1720) is one of Haywood's most famed novels. The book swiftly became a bestseller of its time, contributing to the burgeoning popularity of the novel as a literary form. It is a vivid example of the amatory fiction genre, filled with passion, intrigue, and sensational narratives that captivate readers' emotions. Through her works, Haywood explored themes of love, power, and social status, often challenging societal norms and the treatment of women. Her narratives not only reflected the complexities of human relationships but also provided critical commentary on the gender politics of her era. While Haywood's reputation suffered posthumously due to shifts in literary taste and moral attitudes, she experienced a revival in the 20th and 21st centuries as scholars recognized her crucial role in the development of the novel and her contributions to proto-feminist literary tradition (Blouch, Christine. 'Eliza Haywood and the Romance of Obscurity.' SEL: Studies in English Literature 1500-1900, vol. 31, no. 3, 1991).