On this page
-
Text (1)
-
J22 MARIA EDGEWOKTH.
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Amokgst The Changes Which Have Taken Pla...
Tales ? They were warmly commended by Jeffrey ' s able pen , which by a few happy touches pointed out their distinctive and
characteristic merits . as " to The make design amends of these for many tales faul is excellent ts of execution , and their . There tendenc is nothing y so trul new y laudab indeed le
in for the , from idea the of days convey of Hom ins er truction downwards in the almos form t all of the an amusing writers of narrative fictitious ; history They seldom , have been however thought condescend to aim to at the the moral duties , _improvement or incidents of of ordinary their readers cha- .
racter , oi * ordinary life ; but are occupied entirely in adjusting the claims of n and ice fan honor tastic , and distresses heroic affec of those tion , or who in set describing vulsorrows the delica at defiance te perplexi . The ties gar
bred leas lessons t of I they them t is were , for to that this calculated great great multitude and to teach most , who important were are quite neither class inapp hi of g licable h society -born , to nor that say high the the
-. volumes before us have been written . And their object is to interest , life amuse , and , and developed instruct by them the agency , by stories of ordinary founded characters on the inciden ; to ts impress of common upon
verance their minds , prudence the inestimable , good humour value , and and substantial all that train digni of ty vul of industry gar and , homel perse y - ing virtue any s , grea that t have share hitherto of its admiration made the happ . " iness of the world , without
obtain-Mr . Edgeworth had one day observed , in family conversation , that Maria could not deceive him as to authorshipfor that he would at
, once know her style . Her father being a good deal from home , during the superintendence of the Telegraph , ' the took advantage of
his absence to write ' The Modern Griselda . It was printed in 1805 , with a title page omitting the names of both author and
publisher , and a copy was forwarded to her . It laid quietly on the table in the library , the general family sitting room . Mr .
Edgeworth ' s quick eye soon perceived it , he took it up , glanced at the openingand laid down the book with no further remark than
, a contemptuous ' Pooh ! ' But Mrs . Mary Sneyd , ( sister to Mrs . Elizabeth Edgeworth , ) who continued to live with and add to the
happiness of the family , perseveringly threw the neglected Griselda in his way . After some days he said , " This work haunts me , I must read it to
lay the spirit . " The first page or two did not please , gradually some interest was awakened , and he every now and then exclaimed
* very witty , ' ' exceedingly good ! ' After going through a few chapters he said , " Maria , my dear , I do wish you had written this
clever little tale ! " _atjjast , he started up , and taking her hand said , " You did write it ! look me in the face and say you did notif you
, can ! " She could not ; the secret was out , all parties were pleased , especially her father . And very few of her stories have had more
success , at least amongst those who can appreciate wit and elegance . Encouraged by the reception of her previous worksMiss
Edge-, worth , in the year 1806 , gave to the world her second novel c Leonora : ' one of the most polished and yet least popular
of her productions . Its merits and defects were clearly seen , and its fate with curious accuracy predicted by her father ' s experienced
judgment . " Your critic , partner , father , friend , " he writes
J22 Maria Edgewokth.
J 22 MARIA EDGEWOKTH .
-
-
Citation
-
English Woman’s Journal (1858-1864), Sept. 1, 1858, page 22, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ewj/issues/ewj_01091858/page/22/
-