Maria Edgeworth was a prolific Anglo-Irish writer of adults'' and children''s literature. She was one of the first realist writers in children''s literature and was a significant figure in the evolution of the novel in Europe.The critic August Nemo selected seven short stories that show the best of this author''s work:- The Grateful Negro- The Prussian Vase- The Good Aunt- The Good French Governess- The Orphans- The False Key- Tarlton