The Children of the Abbey: A Tale

by Regina Maria Roche

"The Children of the Abbey: A Tale" by Regina Maria Roche is a novel published in 1796. This Irish romantic tale follows siblings Amanda and Oscar Fitzalan, who are cheated out of their rightful inheritance by a forged will. Blending Gothic elements like haunted abbeys and old mansions with sentimental storytelling, the novel became a major commercial success that remained in print throughout the nineteenth century. Its popularity inspired references in works by Jane Austen and others, and reportedly sparked a wave of Amandas named after its heroine.