Edgeworth Maria

Edgeworth, Maria (1767-1849), novelist and daughter of Richard Lovell Edgeworth (q.v.). She was born at Hare Hatch near Reading, but when in 1782 her father inherited the family estate of Edgeworthstown, co. Longford, Ireland, Maria accompanied him to that country. Her first work was Castle Rackrent (1802), a novel illustrating Irish life of the past generation. In 1803 she wrote a Treatise on Irish Bulls, and began that series of tales by which she is best known - Popular Tales, Moral Tales, and Tales of Fashionable Life. The Parent's Assistant, Early Lessons, Harry and Lucy, and others of the same class are tales for children. She also wrote regular novels, Belinda, Harrington, Leonora, Patronage, Ormond, The Absentee, etc. Her father had, up to his death in 1817, a nominal share in the production of her works, but the real part he took in them was probably very little. Sir Walter Scott's Waverley is said to have been inspired by the idea of doing for Scotland what she had done for Ireland, and he sent her a copy of Waverley, without, however, avowing the authorship. In 1823 she paid him a visit, and later he visited her at Edgeworthstown. Since the first collected edition of her works in 1825, many editions have been published. Her great points as a writer are skilful plots, well sustained interest, and a clear, nervous style.