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Definition: Edgeworth, Maria from The Columbia Encyclopedia

1767–1849, Irish novelist; daughter of Richard Lovell Edgeworth. She lived practically her entire life on her father's estate in Ireland. Letters for Literary Ladies (1795), her first publication, argued for the education of women. She is best known for her novels of Irish life—Castle Rackrent (1800), Belinda (1801), and The Absentee (1812). Although her works are marred somewhat by didacticism, they are notable for their realism, humor, and freshness of style. She also wrote a number of stories for children, including Moral Tales (1801).

  • See selected letters ed. by Colvin, C. (1971);.
  • studies by M. Butler (1972) and C. Owens (1987).

Edgeworth, Maria

From The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia with Atlas and Weather Guide
Irish novelist. Her first novel, Castle Rackrent (1800), dealt with Anglo-Irish country society and was the first regional novel in English. Other novels about Ireland include The Absentee (1812) and Ormond (1817). She also wrote four novels about English society, beginning with Belinda (1801). She was a fervent proponent of women's education. Edgeworth was born in Black Bourton, near Oxford, daughter of Richard Lovell Edgeworth. Much of her life was spent on her father's Irish estate at Edgeworthstown and she helped him in his writing, especially in Practical Education (1798) and the ‘Essay on Irish Bulls’ (1802). She also wrote stories to amuse her father's large family by his four wives. Her work was marked by ingenuity, inventiveness, humour, and acute description of character. As a writer of socially concerned and historical novels, she inspired Walter Scott . Leonora (1806) is the second of the novels dealing with contemporary English society. She wrote two series of Tales of…
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Full text Article Edgeworth, Maria

From The Palgrave Macmillan Dictionary of Women's Biography
Anglo-Irish novelist. Born in Oxfordshire, the second of 21 children, after her father’s second marriage in 1773 she accompanied him to Ireland, but was educated in Derby (1775-80) and in London (1780-82). As a child she suffered from poor health and from ‘mechanical’ efforts to increase her height. …
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Full text Article Edgeworth, Maria (1767-1849)

From Brewer's Dictionary of Irish Phrase and Fable
Novelist. She was the second of the 22 children of Richard Lovell EDGEWORTH , born in Oxfordshire to his first wife on 1 January 1767. Maria was educated in England but spent most of her life on the family estate in Edgeworthstown, Co. Longford, from early adulthood acting as secretary and companion…
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Full text Article EDGEWORTH, MARIA 1767-1849

From Encyclopedia of the Romantic Era, 1760-1850
From the publication of her Castle Rackrent in 1800 until the appearance of Sir Walter Scott's Waverly in 1814, Maria Edge-worth was the most popular and respected novelist writing in English. Although she is primarily remembered today for her portraits of Irish nobility and peasantry, Edgeworth's…
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Full text Article EDGEWORTH, Maria (1767–1849)

From The Oxford Companion to Children's Literature
Author who has been described as ‘the first English classic writer for children’. She was noted for her children's stories, and for her writings on education, which were collaborations with her father Richard Lovell *Edgeworth (1744–1817). Maria was born in Oxfordshire in January 1767, third child…
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Anglo-Irish novelist, whose novels reflect the rhythms of Irish country speech in their wry observation and humour. She is best remembered for Castle Rackrent (1800) and The Absentee (1812). Possessed, as are all the fair daughters of Eve, of an hereditary propensity, transmitted to them…
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Full text Article Maria Edgeworth 1767–1849

From The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations
English-born Irish novelist, daughter of Richard edgeworth Well! some people talk of morality, and some of religion, but give me a little snug property. The Absentee (1812) ch. 2 It was her settled purpose to make the Irish and Ireland ridiculous and contemptible to Lord Colambre; to disgust him…
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Full text Article Maria Edgeworth (1767-1849) (engraving)

From Bridgeman Images: Ken Welsh History Collection
Maria Edgeworth (1767-1849) (engraving)
| 57 words , 1 image
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Full text Article PROPERTY

From Collins Dictionary of Quotations
Get hold of portable property. DICKENS, Charles Great Expectations (1861). Property has its duties as well as its rights. [Letter, 1838] Well! some people talk of morality, and some of religion, but give me a little snug property. EDGEWORTH, Maria The Absentee (1812). …
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Full text Article Maria Edgeworth (1767-1849) (engraving) (b&w photo)

From Bridgeman Images: The Bridgeman Art Library
Maria Edgeworth (1767-1849) (engraving) (b&w photo)
| 56 words , 1 image
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Full text Article Maria Edgeworth (1767–1849)

From The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia with Atlas and Weather Guide
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