The Wild Irish Girl

"I long to study the purely national, purely natural character of an Irishwoman." When Horatio, the son of an English lord, is banished to his father's Irish estate as punishment for his dissipated ways, he goes off in search of adventure. On the wild west coast of Connaught he finds remnants of a romantic Gaelic past--a dilapidated castle, a Catholic priest, a deposed king and the king's lovely daughter Glorvina. In this setting and among these characters Horatio learns the history, culture, and language of a country he had once scorned, but he must do so in disguise, for his own English ancestors are responsible for the ruin of the Gaelic family he comes to love. Written after the Act of Union, The Wild Irish Girl. (1806) is a passionately nationalistic novel and a founding text in the discourse of Irish nationalism. This unique paperback edition includes the 'Introductory Letters' to the novel as well as Owenson's footnotes, rich in detail on the Irish language, history, and legend.

Lady Morgan (Sydney Owenson) (1776-1859) was an Irish novelist. She was one of the most vivid and hotly discussed literary figures of her generation. She began her career with a precocious volume of poems. The Novice of St. Dominick (1806) was praised for its qualities of imagination and description, but the book which made her reputation and brought her name into warm controversy was The Wild Irish Girl: A National Tale (1806). In 1814 she produced her best novel, O Donnell: A National Tale. Amongst her other works are Woman; or, Ida of Athens (1809), France (1817), Italy (1821) and The O Briens and the O Flahertys (1827).

When Horatio, the son of an English lord, is exiled to his father's Irish estate as a penalty for his corrupt ways during his life in London, he goes off in pursuit of adventure. In Ireland, Horatio finds a worn castle and the remnants of the Catholic Gaelic aristocracy that his predecessors displaced after the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland. Horatio learns about the past, culture, and language of a country he had once ignored. Still, he must remain in disguise because his English ancestors are responsible for destroying the Gaelic family he now loves. The story unfolds through letters written by Horatio to his friends. It is a passionately nationalistic book and one of the first works discussing Irish nationalism. It represents the Irish condition initially from an English standpoint. With its incredible writing, gripping plot, and excellently portrayed characters, the novel immediately became a hit in England.

When Horatio, the son of an English lord, is exiled to his father's Irish estate as a penalty for his corrupt ways during his life in London, he goes off in pursuit of adventure. In Ireland, Horatio finds a worn castle and the remnants of the Catholic Gaelic aristocracy that his predecessors displaced after the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland. Horatio learns about the past, culture, and language of a country he had once ignored. Still, he must remain in disguise because his English ancestors are responsible for destroying the Gaelic family he now loves. The story unfolds through letters written by Horatio to his friends. It is a passionately nationalistic book and one of the first works discussing Irish nationalism. It represents the Irish condition initially from an English standpoint. With its incredible writing, gripping plot, and excellently portrayed characters, the novel immediately became a hit in England.