Olinda's Adventures: or the Amours of a Young Lady

"Olinda's Adventures: or the Amours of a Young Lady" by Catharine Trotter is a story told through letters, where we follow Olinda, a young woman in the 1700s, through the ups and downs of love and friendship as she deals with what society expects from her. Right away, Olinda's letters to her friend Cleander show how much she misses her and set the scene for the story to come. She shares memories, like meeting Licydon, which taught her about attraction. Olinda thinks a lot about how women are "supposed" to act when it comes to love. Even though she is interested in Licydon, a rich goldsmith named Berontus also grabs her attention. As the story starts, we get a good look at Olinda's thoughts, her funny takes on life and love, and how she tries to stay true to herself while figuring it all out.