About
Maria Edgeworth was an Anglo-Irish novelist and educationist, a major figure in early 19th-century literature. Born in England, she moved to Ireland in 1782. Her first novel, Castle Rackrent (1800), is considered the first regional novel in English. She also wrote children's stories and educational works, often in collaboration with her father. Her work influenced Sir Walter Scott and was admired by Jane Austen. During the Great Famine, she organized relief for the Irish.
* 1768-01-01 — † 1849-05-22
Major works
- Castle Rackrent (1800)novel
- Belinda (1801)novel
- The Absentee (1812)novel
- Practical Education (1798)educational treatise
- Letters for Literary Ladies (1795)essay
Key milestones
- 1782Moves with her family to the Edgeworthstown estate in Ireland.
- 1800Publishes Castle Rackrent, considered the first regional novel in English.
- 1845-1847During the Great Famine, arranges shipments of flour and rice from Boston for relief in Ireland.
Themes
EducationIrish societyRole of womenSocial satireProvincial life
Sources: britannica.com · id.loc.gov · dublincityofliterature.ie