The Acquisitions Table: Moral Tales for Young People

Edgeworth, Maria.  Moral Tales for Young People.New York: George Long, 1821.

It is always gratifying to discover another edition of Maria Edgeworth’s popular Moral Tales that is new to AAS.  George Long (1771?-1843) produced a steady output of textbooks and children’s books, many of which were written by British and European authors, including Miss Edgeworth.  Interestingly, this title page vignette features a woman writer at her desk (perhaps Miss Edgeworth), while two children (perhaps her younger siblings) eagerly reading a book (perhaps what she has published)–adding a visual reinforcement of the female author’s “natural” role as moral writer for child readers.

Published by

Laura Wasowicz

Curator of Children's Literature, American Antiquarian Society

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