The Father and Daughter was one of the most widely read novels of the early nineteenth century, captivating readers with its pathos and melodrama. It tells the story of Agnes Fitzhenry, whose seduction by the libertine Clifford causes her father to descend into madness. Rooted in the social conditions of late eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century Britain, the novel is both an affecting narrative and a compelling social commentary.

Opie’s first novel, Dangers of Coquetry (1790), also addresses issues of female sexuality and the social construction of gender. It is the story of a young woman who, while possessing many virtues, is given to coquetry. She attracts the attention of a sternly moral gentleman who dislikes coquettes, and mutual love ensues.

This Broadview edition includes a careful selection of contextual documents, such as Opie’s letters, dramatic adaptations, and texts on coquetry, chastity, and the treatment of insanity.

Amelia Opie's profile page

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Shelley King is an Assistant Professor of English at Queen’s University, Kingston.

John B. Pierce is a Professor of English at Queen’s University, Kingston.

“This edition is wonderfully rich. It is a pleasure to know that the text that made Opie’s reputation in her own day is back in print and prepared by such able hands as Shelley King and John B. Pierce. No one else could have done as excellent a job.” — Christine M. Cooper, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

“This edition, which places Opie’s work in conversation with other Romantic texts preoccupied with questions of madness, chastity, and sexuality, provides Romanticists with an invaluable addition to their libraries and classrooms.” — Roxanne Eberle, University of Georgia