埃奇沃斯《拉克伦特堡》.pdf

Castle Rackrent
by Maria Edgeworth
作者简介
埃奇沃思( ),爱尔兰作家,生
于牛津郡布拉克本。她的作品曾影响与他多有交往的司各特。以写作
儿童故事和反映爱尔兰生活的小说而闻名。《拉克伦特堡》(
)和《在外地主》( )都是很有特
色的小说。
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................1
NOTES ON “CASTLE RACKRENT”.....................................................19
AUTHOR’S PREFACE.............................................................................21
CASTLE RACKRENT.............................................................................24
GLOSSARY.............................................................................................76
Castle Rackrent 1
INTRODUCTION
I
The story of the Edgeworth Family, if it were properly told, should be as
long as the ARABIAN NIGHTS themselves; the thousand and one cheer-
ful intelligent members of the circle, the amusing friends and relations, the
charming surroundings, the cheerful hospitable home, all go to make up an
almost unique history of a county family of great parts and no little character.
The Edgeworths were people of good means and position, and their rental,
we are told, amounted to nearly L3000 a year. At one time there was some
talk of a peerage for Mr. Edgeworth, but he was considered too indepen-
dent for a peerage.
The family tradition seems to have been unconventional and spirited
always. There are records still extant in the present Mr. Edgeworth’s
possession, papers of most wonderful vitality for parchment, where you
may read passionate remonstrances and adjurations from great-grandfathers
to great-great-grandfathers, and where great-great-grandmothers rush into
the discussion with vehement spelling and remonstrance, and make matters
no better by their interference. I never read more passionately eloquent
letters and appeals. There are also records of a pleasanter nature;
merrymakings, and festive preparations, and 12s. 6d. for a pair of silk stock-
ings for Miss Margaret Edgeworth to dan