Barford Abbey, written by Susannah Minifie Gunning and published in 1768, is an abbey fiction novel written in the epistolary style. This style of writing is presented in a series of letters, constructing a story out of letter exchanges between characters to create an atmosphere of intimacy and a quality of authenticity (“Letters, letter writing, and epistolary novels''). It was published in the midst of the growing popularity of letter-writing for efficient communication, and when publishing personal letters for the public to read became common as well (“Letters, letter writing, and epistolary novels''). This style of fiction had been heavily defended by other writers like Samuel Johnson, and became a recognized art form in its ability to capture life (Doody & Milberger, “Appendix A3,” 215). The story of Barford Abbey itself is a major contributor to the start of abbey fiction and gothic literature, with the physical abbeys of Britain being known for their tumultuous religious and royal history. The physical imagery of abbeys being used as symbols to portray change, conflict, and commentary on status and societal hopes and fears made one the perfect place for the protagonist of Barford Abbey, Fanny Warley, to unexpectedly stay and get caught up in the complicated notions of wealth and aristocracy (Doody & Milberger, “Introduction,” 14).

Curran, Louise. “Letters, Letter Writing and Epistolary Novels.” The British Library, The British Library, 18 May 2018, www.bl.uk/restoration-18th-century-literature/articles/letters-letter-writing-and-epistolary-novels.

 Gunning, Susannah Minifie, et al. “Appendix A: ‘Writing to the Moment’: The Epistolary Style.” Barford Abbey. Broadview Press, 2020. Pg. 215

Gunning, Susannah Minifie, et al. “Introduction.” Barford Abbey. Broadview Press, 2020. Pg. 14