Susanna Elizabeth Burney

Susanna Elizabeth Burney, later known as Susanna Elizabeth Phillips (7 January 1755 – 6 January 1800), was an English writer. She wrote 650,000 words and her letters are said to be "the most important source on opera in the period".

Life Burney was born in King's Lynn on a day in January 1755 which was either the 4th or the 7th. She was the fourth child and third daughter of Dr. Charles Burney (1726–1814) and his first wife, Esther Sleepe (c.1725–1762). Her father's children included the seafarer James Burney, the writer Frances "Fanny" Burney, the scholar Charles Burney and the writer Sarah Harriet Burney. Her elder sister Esther went with her in 1764 when their father took them to France to improve their French. Burney was in France until 1766, learning the language which was thought likely to improve her prospects of employment as a governess. At some point, she also gained a good knowledge of Italian. and as usual recorded these thoughts in her journal letters. Her letters were all addressed to Fanny, and Fanny wrote all her journal letters to her. Susan's letters have proved to be a valuable source about society and music, and also history – including her eye-witness account of the Gordon Riots.

When Fanny secretly wrote and published her first novel Evelina, they were both involved in the cover-up.

Her letters and journals survive. She is estimated to have written 650,000 words in her lifetime. There is a Susan Burney Letters Project at the University of Nottingham and her writings are held by the New York Public Library, the British Museum and Yale University Library. Her letters are said to be "by far the most important source on opera in the period" especially as they were not used by later historians.

After her death, her sister Fanny stopped writing her journal letters to her, but encouraged by her husband she persevered and addressed new letters to her son.