Castle Rackrent

Set against the backdrop of Ireland's political turmoil in the 1790s, the narrative features a unique Irish Catholic perspective that critiques the decline of an Anglo-Irish family. Maria Edgeworth uses satire to address the responsibilities of the upper class toward their tenants, shifting the focus from religious to class conflict. Her pioneering work in the regional novel genre not only influenced contemporary writers like Sir Walter Scott but also anticipated the emergence of a new Irish Catholic middle class.