During the course of my work I have received kind assistance from many quarters, which it is my agreeable duty here to acknowledge. For much valuable advice my gratitude is due to Mr. D. J. O’Donoghue, of University College, Dublin, who was the first to encourage me to set about a study of Maturin, and to Professor Yrjö Hirn, of Helsingfors, who has, with a never-failing interest, followed my work from its beginning. For unpublished biographical material I am under obligation to Mr. John Murray, for having permitted me to make use of Maturin’s letters to John Murray, the publisher; and to Miss Ella Hepworth Dixon, who has placed Maturin’s correspondence with Sir Charles and Lady Morgan at my disposal. I must also mention that Mr. More Adey has favoured me with the loan of such of Maturin’s works as I do not possess, without which kindness the completion of my study would have been utterly impossible. Lastly, it remains to offer my best thanks to Mr. S. Sydney Silverman for help rendered me in point of language, the book being written in what is to me an acquired tongue.
N. I.
Helsingfors, April 1923.
Contents.
| Page | |
|---|---|
| CHAPTER I | |
| Romanticism; Maturin’s family and descent; childhood, college course, marriage; curacy of Loughrea, curacy of St. Peter’s | [1] |
| CHAPTER II | |
| Gothic Romance; Montorio; The Wild Irish Boy; The Milesian Chief; Bertram written, sent to Scott and Byron, accepted to Drury Lane; Waterloo | [14] |
| CHAPTER III | |
| Bertram; Maturin’s visit to London, personality and habits; Manuel | [107] |
| CHAPTER IV | |
| Women; Fredolfo; Sermons; Melmoth the Wanderer | [142] |
| CHAPTER V | |
| The Universe; changed mode of living, intercourse with the Morgans; Siege of Salerno and other unpublished productions; Five Sermons; The Albigenses; last illness and death; conclusion | [271] |
| Notes | [312] |
| Index | [323] |
I.
1780-1806.
Vastness! and Age! and Memories of Eld!
Silence! and Desolation! and dim Night!
I feel ye now—I feel ye in your strength—