Castle Rackrent
80. Maria Edgeworth, Castle Rackrent
Set in the Irish countryside, this novel is narrated by Thady Quirk, lowly squire of the Rackrent family. He describes the Rackrents’ shifting fortunes, from the family’s founding by gregarious Sir Patrick O’Shaughlin to its fall less than five generations later. The owners of Castle Rackrent are all very irresponsible (read: drunk) and very expensive, usually dying in debt. However, by his own account, Thady remains “honest” and loyal to the family through it all - even though the estate eventually falls into the hands of his own son Jason. Meanwhile, an English editor appends footnotes, a preface, and a glossary to Thady’s narrative, explaining the ignorance and superstition of the Irish.
This book was so dull that I nearly couldn’t finish it - and, at only 80 pages long (if that), it’s more like a short story than a full-fledged novel. There is no real plot to speak of, and all the characters are exactly the same; there’s no depth, no growth, no real change. However, apparently the book is supposed to be a satire, which does make it slightly more interesting. I did like how Thady’s voice is contrasted with the Editor’s, and how both narrators are unreliable in various ways. Edgeworth also manages to slide in some social issues, such as Anglo-Irish relations, money, and dissipation in the upper and the lower classes. So I can see how this book might be productive reading in a literature course, for example…but if you want something that actually has a story and is entertaining, look elsewhere!
Bottom line: ignore my teaser from earlier and don't read this book! :)