Elizabeth Sheridan, The Triumph of Prudence over Passion

Aileen Douglas (Trinity College Dublin)
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The title of Elizabeth Sheridan’s novel raises expectations of a conventional work in which the eponymous heroines successfully undergo various trials and emerge in the work’s closing pages to submit to the norms of their society. In tone, content, and aspects of its plot, however, this novel radically departs from such expectations.

Initially published in Dublin, the novel was later published in London as The Reconciliation: or, History of Miss Mortimer, and Miss Fitzgerald (1783). It consists of 53 letters written by five different correspondents, but the greater part of the novel is written by Louisa Mortimer and Eliza Fitzgerald, each of whom keeps a journal, regularly dispatched to the other to express and support their friendship while they are apart. At 23, Louisa Mortimer is

1587 words

Citation: Douglas, Aileen. "The Triumph of Prudence over Passion". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 16 July 2013 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=35036, accessed 29 March 2024.]

35036 The Triumph of Prudence over Passion 3 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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