The Absentee

"The Absentee" by Maria Edgeworth is a novel written in the early 19th century, reflecting the cultural and social norms of its time. The story explores the lives of Irish landlords residing in England, particularly focusing on the clashing identities and challenges faced by those, like Lady Clonbrony, who seek acceptance in English high society while neglecting their responsibilities in Ireland. The narrative centers around characters like Lord Colambre, Lady Clonbrony, and the heiress Miss Broadhurst, whose relationships and personal dilemmas provide a rich commentary on societal expectations and the concept of duty. At the start of the novel, a conversation at the opera introduces Lady Clonbrony and her family's struggles, positioning them as Irish absentees who are trying to navigate the complexities of London high society. Through Lady Langdale and Mrs. Dareville’s dialogue, we learn of Lady Clonbrony's efforts to assimilate, which are marred by the ridicule she faces for her accent and manners. Lord Colambre, her son, begins to contemplate his family's situation with a growing sense of responsibility, leading him on a journey back to Ireland to confront the reality of his family's estate and the lives affected by their absentee status. The opening chapters set the stage for the unfolding drama of social aspirations, personal identity, and the pursuit of belonging against a backdrop of class distinctions and familial duty. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Maria Edgeworth was a prolific Anglo-Irish novelist of adults' and children's literature. She was one of the first realist writers in children's literature and a significant figure in the evolution of the novel in Europe. She held critical views on estate management, politics, and education, and corresponded with some of the leading literary and economic writers, including Sir Walter Scott and David Ricardo. During the first decade of the 19th century she was one of the most widely read novelists in Britain and Ireland. Her name today is most commonly associated with Castle Rackrent, her first novel, in which she adopted an Irish Catholic voice to narrate the dissipation and decline of a family from her own landed Anglo-Irish class.