68. Ormond

Ormond
Maria Edgeworth
1817
Around 400 pages

So for reason my computer is being ridiculously slow and when I started this post I had about twenty five minutes to write it, now because of picture problems I have around eleven minutes to write.  It shall be done!

I was really excited to read this book because it has often been described as the Irish Tom Jones and I love me some Tom.  This novel follows Ormond, not surprisingly, as he travels, falls in love, and gets into mischief.  At the beginning of the book, he decides that he wants to be more like Tom Jones.  To do this, he has to find a heroine, be a bit of a "blackguard", and then reform.  While making fun of novels' heroes isn't exactly new (Don Quixote, Female Quixote, etc.) it is always funny.

So that part of the novel was certainly interesting. However, this book did have a tendency to drag and the heroine, Dora, is rather dull.  Still, a good read and I would recommend it.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

It is Maria Edgeworth so more Irish nationalism themes.

63. The Absentee

The Absentee
Maria Edgeworth
1812
Around 200 pages

For some reason I am having a really hard time writing this post.  I have literally just been staring at the screen for the last ten minutes, trying to think of a sentence to write.  While this may be due to lack of caffeine, I think it is because this book made absolutely no impression on me.  Still, your fearless blogger will try to come up with a few points, even though you are likely to never encounter this novel in your entire life.

This is the story of Lord Calambre, an Irish born gentleman.  His mother has tried for years to deny her Irish heritage and join the London social scene, but her desperation to fit in makes her the subject of ridicule in society.  His father is deeply in debt, mostly because of his mother.  Not surprisingly, Lord Calambre does not want to stick around and returns to Ireland.  He wants to marry his cousin Grace, but finds out that she is illegitimate so ditches her and goes after other women.  Will true love triumph over Lord Calambre being an ass?  Read it to find out!

Actually, don't read it.  It is semi interesting to see how the Irish were looked down upon by Londoners.  In fact, Ireland seemed to be little more than a real estate opportunity to most of the characters in this book.  Still, the romance is unemotional and contrived; I feel like Edgeworth just wanted a reason to write about the prejudice so came up with a tired love story to serve her purpose.  Not worth a read.

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

It is free on Amazon?  I don't know there are really not a lot of facts out there on this novel.

60. Castle Rackrent

Castle Rackrent
Maria Edgeworth
1800
Around 120 pages

Kicking off the 1800s with another short novel that I was able to read in one sitting.  This is one of those books that is so short that you almost feel like you don't have to form an opinion of because it is over so quickly.  But woe is me, because this is a review blog and I must rate it.

This novel is a history of the Castle Rackrent and its various owners, told by the castle's steward, Thady Quirk.  I call using that name as my alias!  Anyway, it is often considered the first historical novel, the first regional novel, the first novel to use an unreliable narrator, and the first Anglo-Irish novel. So obviously this novel is quite influential.  Is it enjoyable, though?

Not really.  Because the novel is so short, we are given very flat, shallow characters.  There is also a great deal of anti Semitism, with the Jewish woman in the novel being obsessed with her jewels.

So overall rather dull but thankfully short.

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

The first novel of Maria Edgeworth and one of the few that her father did not edit.

Considered to be the first saga novel.

Edgeworth is often compared to Sir Walter Scott (she served the political interests of Ireland while he served the interests of Scotland).