Product Description

Lord and Lady Clonbrony are more concerned with fashionable London society than with their responsibilities to those who live and work on their Irish estates. Concerned by this negligence, their son Lord Colambre goes incognito to Ireland to observe the situation and to discover the truth about the origins of his beloved cousin Grace. Can he find a solution that will bring prosperity and contentment to every level of society, including his own family? Rich in atmosphere and local character, The Absentee (1812) helped establish the ‘regional’ novel form, which influenced such varied writers as Scott, Thackeray and Turgenev. In this sparkling satire on Anglo-Irish relations, Maria Edgeworth created a landmark work of morality and social realism.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #338955 in Books
• Published on: 2007-10-25
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

About the Author
Maria Edgeworth (1767-1849) was born in Oxfordshire and after being educated in England, she went to Edgeworthstown in Ireland to act as her father's assistant and governess to his many other children. With her father she wrote several educational books, and as a novelist she earned the praise of Sir Walter Scott. Heidi Thomson is Senior Lecturer at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. In addition to her work on Edgeworth, she has written on Gray, Wordsworth and Keats. Edited by Heidi Thomson and Kim Walker With an introduction by Heidi Thomson

Customer Reviews

Interior Decoration Regency Style
Maria Edgeworth in this novel points satirically at wealthy ladies who aspire to gain a foothold in London society. The means to their social advancement is through interior decor of a very exotic sort!
The style of writing is very pointed,and Edgeworth's voice can be heard behind the witty words. The novel has a meaning today ,with so much interest shown in interior and exterior design as a result of television programmes.