Patronage
London: J. Johnson and Co., 1814. First Edition. 4 vols., 12mo (182 x 117mm), pp. [8], 418, [4]; [6], 431, [4], [8], 402, [4]; [4], 390, [4]. Half title in volume III only (none called for in vol. I), errata for all four volumes bound at the beginning of volume IV. Contemporary polished light tan calf, decorated and lettered in gilt, marbled endpapers and edges, armorial bookplate of the Earl of Ilchester. Light fading to spines, rubbing to the extremities, and occasional internal toning, else near fine. Sadleir 780. Item #227
Patronage contrasts the fortunes of two families: the Percys, who rely on merit and independence, and the Falconers, who advance through the cultivation of political and social connections. Through this parallel structure Edgeworth examines the corrosive effects of dependence on patronage in early nineteenth-century British public life, extending her critique across the professions of law, the military, the church, and government.
Maria Edgeworth (1768–1849) was the eldest daughter of Richard Lovell Edgeworth, a wealthy Irish landlord, eccentric, radical, and deeply interested in the practical applications of science and education. His influence on her was profound: he edited her work, managed her career, and collaborated with her on Practical Education (1798), a treatise much indebted to Rousseau. Her writings fall broadly into three categories: those based on Irish life, considered her finest, including Castle Rackrent (1800) and The Absentee (1812); novels of contemporary English society, among them Belinda (1801), Patronage, and Helen (1834); and her many popular works for and about children, including The Parent's Assistant (1796–1800) and Moral Tales (1801). Castle Rackrent is widely recognized as initiating both the first fully developed regional novel and the first true historical novel in English, pointing the way directly to Scott. Patronage was published at the height of her reputation and sold well, though its didactic intent and considerable length drew mixed responses from contemporary reviewers. Edgeworth was recognized in her own time as a peer of Scott and a predecessor whose achievements the next generation of novelists, including Austen, acknowledged with respect.
Price: $1,500.00