Leonora, though not published until 1806, was commenced three years
before that date: the circumstances under which it was written were to a
certain extent unique in Maria Edgeworth's life; for we are told that
throughout the time occupied in writing the story, she had in mind the
offer of marriage made to her by Monsieur Edelcrantz, a Swedish
gentleman of good position, "of superior understanding and mild
manners," as she told her aunt in a letter partly written before the
proposal and finished afterwards. This seems, from the biographies, to
have been the only time this truly good and sensible woman was ever
sought in marriage by any man; and it shows some of the good qualities
she possessed, that though she refused him, yet from the respect she
bore him and the esteem in which she held him, this story was written to
a large extent with a view to his approbation, though we are told that
she never knew whether or no he had read it.
On the next page is appended a list of the principal editions of this
volume.
Leonora, by Maria Edgeworth, 2 vols., London, 1806.
---- Another edition, with _Letters on Several Subjects_, and
_An Essay on Self-Justification_ (forming Vol. IV. of _Tales
and Miscellaneous Pieces_, by Maria Edgeworth, 14 vols.), London,
1825.
---- Another edition (Vol. XIII. of _Novels and Tales_ of Maria
Edgeworth, 18 vols.), London, 1832-33.
Many reprints from the stereotype plates of this edition have been
issued in various forms and with varying arrangement of the stories.
Translated into French in 1807, and another edition in 1812.