Publisher's Synopsis
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 follows the lives of several characters, including Lord and Lady Clonbrony, their son Lord Colambre, and their tenants. Lord Clonbrony is an absentee landlord who spends most of his time in London, leaving Lady Clonbrony to manage their estate in Ireland. However, Lady Clonbrony is more interested in social climbing and maintaining their status in London society than in the welfare of their tenants. Lord Colambre, their son, has been living in England and returns to Ireland to investigate the state of their estate and the treatment of their tenants. He falls in love with a young woman named Grace Nugent, who is hiding a secret about her past. Through the characters of Lord and Lady Clonbrony, Edgeworth explores the tensions between the English and Irish cultures, as well as the issues of absentee landlords and the mistreatment of tenants. The novel also touches on themes of love, loyalty, and identity. Overall, The Absentee is a social commentary on the state of Ireland during the 18th century and a critique of the British aristocracy's treatment of their Irish subjects.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.
