Thady Quirk, devoted steward to the decaying estate of the Rackrent family, narrates a riotous story of four generations of a dying dynasty in Castle Rackrent (1800). Thady will defend his masters to the end, but eventually his naivety and blind loyalty cause him to ignore the warning signs as the f[...]

The lively comedy of this novel in which a young woman comes of age amid the distractions and temptations of London high society belies the challenges it poses to the conventions of courtship, the dependence of women, and the limitations of domesticity. Contending with the perils and the varied cast[...]

For the first time, these two important Irish national novels are paired in one volume, suitable for courses in Anglo-Irish literature and history, Romantic studies, and women's studies. Contextual materials include commentaries by contemporaries and personal letters from both authors.[...]