-
Skip These Ads
-
Skip These Ads|
|
 |
Click here and add this page to your favorites!
|
Encyclopedia Britannica - Main :: ECG-EMS |
|
|
EDGEWORTH, MARIA (1767-1849) , Irish novelist, second child and eldest daughter of Richard Lovell Edgeworth (q.v.) and his first wife, Anna Maria Elers, was born in the house
house
Mr Edgeworth encouraged his daughter's literary instincts. It has been the fashion to regard his influence over Maria's work as altogether deplorable, but against the disadvantages arising from his interference must be weighed the stimulus she undoubtedly derived from his powerful mind. Her first publication was a plea for female education, Letters to Literary Ladies (1795), and in 1796 appeared the collection of stories known as The Parent's Assistant (2nd ed., 6 vols., 'Soo), an unpromising title which was not chosen by the author. The stories had been submitted as they were written to the juvenile critics of the Edgeworth nursery. They were therefore children's stories for children, even though the morals were Mr Edgeworth's. In 1798 Mr Edgeworth's fourth marriage threatened the family harmony, but Maria soon became a close friend of her step-mother. Practical Education (2 vols., 1798) was written in con-junction with her father, who also collaborated with her in the Essay on Irish Bulls (1802). Miss Edgeworth's first novel, Castle Rackrent, an Hibernian Tale taken from Facts, and from the Manners of the Irish Squires before the year 1782, was written without her father's supervision, and appeared anonymously in 1800. It is the story of an Irish estate and its owners, the Rackrents, as told by Thady, the steward. Its success was immediate, and a second edition soon appeared with the author's name. Perhaps because of the absence of Richard Lovell Edgeworth's co-operation, the book is the most natural and vigorous of her novels. The course of the story is not altered to suit any moral, and the personages appear to be drawn
original
and blushing. Moral Tales for Young People (5 vols.) and Early Lessons, which included " Harry and Lucy," " Rosamond" and Frank," appeared in 18oi. In 1802 the Edgeworths went abroad, first to Brussels and then to Paris. They had already connexions in Paris through their kinsman, the abbe Henri Allen Edgeworth de Firmont, who was, however, then in exile . They met all the notabilities in Paris, and' Maria refused an offer of marriage from a Swedish count named Edelcrantz. Although Leonora; not published until four years later, is said to have been written to meet his taste, she apparently remained then and always heart-whole; but her stepmother thought otherwise, and maintained that she suffered severely for her decision (Memoir, i. 144). Returning to Edgeworthstown, Miss Edgeworth resumed her writing, which was always done in the rooms, commonly used by the whole family. Popular Tales was published in 1804, and The Modern Grise'da in the same year; Leonora in 18o6; and in 1809 the first series of Tales of Fashionable Life, three volumes containing " Ennui," " Madame de Fleury," " Almeria," " The Dun " and " Manoeuvring " ; the second series (3 vols., 1812) includedThe Absentee," one of her best tales, which was originally designed as a play, " Vivian " and " Emilie de Coulanges." In 1813 Maria and her parents spent a considerable time in London, and her society was much sought after. When Waverley was published, Miss Edgeworth received a copy from the publishers, and at once recognized the authorship. She wrote a long letter of appreciation (23rd of October 1814) to " the author of Waverley," which she began with the phrase aut Scotus, ant diabolus, but the letter was merely acknowledged by the. publishers. Patronage (4 vols., 1814), the longest of her novels, and Harrington,. a tale, and Ormond, a tale (3 vols.,1817) complete the list
After his death in 1817 Miss Edgeworth occupied herself with completing his Memoirs, which were published in 182o. The book was the excuse for an attack on Mr Edgeworth's reputation in the,July number of the Quarterly Review, which Miss Edge-worth had the courage to leave unread. Her life at Edgeworthstown was varied by visits to London, to Lord Lansdowne at Bowood, Wiltshire, to the Misses Sneyd in Staffordshire, and to many other friends. In 182o she was again in Paris, and in 1823 she spent a happy fortnight with the Scotts at Abbotsford. In 182.5 Scott went to Edgeworthstown, and their relations were always cordial. Miss Edgeworth's production was less after her father's death. Sequels to " Rosamond," " Frank," " Harry and Lucy" in the Early Lessons were published in 1822-1825. Comic Dramas appeared in 1817, and Helen in 1834. She worked to the last, and in 1846 laboured strenuously for the relief of the famine-stricken Irish peasants. She died on the 22nd of May 1849. Miss Edgeworth's novels are distinguished by good sense, humour and an easy flowing style. As the construction of a plot is not her strong point, she is generally more successful in tales than in lengthy novels. The vivacity of her dialogues is extraordinary; and in them her characters reveal themselves in the most natural way possible. Her books are character-studies rather than intensely interesting narratives. Sobriety of judgment is seen throughout; and passion, romance and poetry rarely, if ever, shed their lustre on her pages. Three of her aims were to paint national manners, to enforce morality, and to teach fashionable society by satirizing thhlives of the idle and worldly. She expressly calls some of her sg ries " Moral Tales "; but they all fall under this category. In her pages the heroic virtues give place to prudence, industry, kindness and sweetness of temper. There are few instances of overwhelming emotions or tumultuous passions in her works; and it is remarkable how little the Iove of nature appears. She never uses material which does not yield some direct moral lesson. But the freshness of her stories, her insight into character, lively dialogues, originality of invention, and delightfully clear style render it quite possible to read her works in successionwithout any sense of weariness: Among the many sweet memories her Unsullied pages have bequeathed to the world, not the least precious is her own noble character, which ever responded to all that is best and most enduring in human nature. See A Memoir of Maria Edgeworth, with a Selection from her Letters (1867), by her stepmother, F. A.. Edgeworth, privately printed. A selection from this was made by Augustus
End of Article: EDGEWORTH, MARIA (1767-1849) If you wish, you can link directly to this article.
<a href="http://jcsm.org/StudyCenter/Encyclopedia/ECG_EMS/EDGEWORTH_MARIA_1767_1849_.html"> EDGEWORTH, MARIA (1767-1849) </a> |
|
|
(Previous) EDGEWORTH DE FIRMONT, HENRY ESSEX (1745-1807) |
(Next) EDGEWORTH, RICHARD LOVELL (1744-1817) |
Jesus Christ Saves Ministries, P.O. Box 70696, Pasadena, CA 91117JCSM is a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization. Copyright © 1997-present. |
Free & Cheap Cell
Phones |
Cheap Long Distance
Phone Service Carriers |
Talk America Local Phone Service
|
Ztel & MCI - Unlimited Long Distance
Compare
Cell Phone Plans & Companies |
International Calling Cards & Prepaid Phone Cards |
Voice Over IP Broadband Internet Phone
Service | Wireless
Phone Plans & Cheap Cell Phones
|
_____________________________________________________________________________
Online First Aid and CPR Certification . The Online Christ Centered Ministries . The Skeptic's Annotated Bible: Corrected and Explained . The Inerrancy Discussion Board . Free Email Accounts . Home Equity Loans . JasonGastrich.com . The Missions, Apologetics, and Creation Bible Conference . Young Earth Creation Science . San Diego Music Lessons . 10,000 Wise Quotes and Spiritual Sayings . Gastrich.net . Maximizing the Internet: 12 Keys to Success . Louisiana Baptist University . NKJV Web Hosting and Services . Michael Newdow . San Diego Soccer Training . Christian Guitar Lessons . Jesus Christ Saves Ministries . Eternal Security
