num_pages: 264
description: The Absentee is a novel written by Maria Edgeworth, first published in 1812. The story is set in Ireland during the late 18th century and centers around the absentee landlord, Lord Clonbrony, and his family. Lord Clonbrony is a wealthy aristocrat who spends most of his time in London, leaving his estate and tenants in the hands of his unscrupulous agent, Mr. Burke. The novel follows the lives of Lord Clonbrony's daughter, Lady Isabel, and her cousin, Constantia, as they navigate the social and economic challenges of their privileged but troubled lives. Along the way, they encounter a cast of colorful characters, including the charming and witty Sir Condy Rackrent, the scheming Mrs. Rafferty, and the benevolent Father Tom. Through their experiences, the novel explores themes of class, identity, and the responsibilities of the ruling class towards their subjects. The Absentee is widely regarded as one of the most important works of Irish literature, and is considered a landmark in the development of the novel as a genre.Title refers to Irish landlords in England, circa 1800.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
language: English
title: The Absentee
titlecomplete: The Absentee
genres: Classics, British Literature, Ireland, Irish Literature, English Literature, Romance, Historical Fiction, Literature, 19th Century, Fiction
ratings_count: 1696
publisher: Kessinger Publishing