SOURCE: "Maria Edgeworth: The Unlikely Precursor," in Heritage Now: Irish Literature in the English Language, St. Martin's Press, 1982, pp. 17-29.

In the following essay, Cronin singles out the specifically Irish characteristics of Edgeworth's; Castle Rackrent, including a "devouring interest in speech" and the "absence of plot. "

If Irish literature in English begins anywhere, it begins with Maria Edgeworth's Castle Rackrent; and the key dates in Maria's life as far as the composition of the novel is concerned have a melancholy aptness. Born in England, she had been given a brief, tantalising glimpse of Ireland as a child of six; and then whisked back to become, at the age of eight, a boarder at Mrs. Lataffier's academy for the daughters of gentlefolk at Derby; and—at thirteen—a pupil at Mrs. Davis's seminary in Upper Wimpole Street. When she was fifteen her admired father had decided to settle in...