1815 Castle Rackrent by Maria Edgeworth - Antique Book

In good condition, here is an early copy of Maria Edgeworth's Castle Rackrent; An Hibernian Tale. Published just fifteen years after the very first edition. This copy dates from 1815. In a half-leather binding, with marbled papered sides. Condition in detail below.

A ground-breaking short novel, widely celebrated in English literature for pioneering several major literary forms: it is considered the first regional novel, the first historical novel, the first "Big House" novel, and the first to use a sustained unreliable narrator.

Chronicling the spectacular decline of the landed Rackrent family estate across four generations of heirs. Featuring characters such as: Sir Patrick - the ultimate spendthrift entertainer who invents "raspberry whiskey," lives in constant extravagance, and dies in a fit of drinking, only to have his corpse seized for debt during his own funeral. Sir Murtagh - a stingy man obsessed with complex legal battles who ends up draining the estate's finances through ceaseless litigation. Sir Kit - a cruel, absentee landlord who locks his wife in her room for years while brutally exploiting his tenants. Sir Condy - a good-natured but entirely financially inept man who ultimately finishes off the family fortune, losing the entire estate to his own clever, calculating lawyer.

The novel is famously narrated by "Honest" Thady Quirk, an illiterate, elderly Irish servant and estate steward. Thady continually asserts his undying loyalty and love for the Rackrents, but his narrative reveals their greed, foolishness, and deep abuse of power. Scholars debate whether Thady is genuinely naïve or subtly sarcastic and tongue-in-cheek.

Sir Walter Scott credited Castle Rackrent as the direct inspiration for his own historical Waverley novels, which sought to do for Scotland what Edgeworth had achieved for Ireland.

Inside this copy the pages are clean and tightly bound. Has a small inked name at the top of the front free endpaper, and repeated on the next blank page. Some mild toning along the top edge, and spotting to the sides. Small nick to rear endpaper fore-edge. Unillustrated. Has a glossary of Irish terms at the back.

In a half-binding of calf leather with marbled papered sides. Stamped gilt bands to the spine with decoration in each compartment. Some rubbing to corners and spine ends. Rubbing also to the surface of the papered boards - having removed some of the pattern in places. Has a cracked front joint all the way along - but the board remains attached (see photos). Partial crack to the rear joint.

Your antique copy of Edgeworth's Castle Rackrent will be wrapped with care in tissue and ribbon* and sent well packaged. I am always happy to add a gift card with a message to the parcel if desired.

H 18 cm x W 11 cm, pp 216, 0.24 kg. I dispatch worldwide daily from the UK, with the exception of a small number of countries.

* If you would prefer for your book not to be decoratively wrapped but sent simply in the full protective packaging, please add a note to the order.

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