
A stern yet tender letter opens this tale, written by an aging earl to his wayward son, whose reckless pleasures have left him deeply in debt and far from the noble path his father envisioned. The earl, burdened by family obligations and the weight of an inherited estate, offers a desperate bargain: he will retreat to his Irish lands and use his dwindling resources to rescue his son—if only the younger man will renounce his libertine ways and embrace a more honorable destiny.
The narrative soon carries the reader across the rolling Irish countryside, where the prodigal heir encounters a spirited young woman whose fierce independence and deep love of her native land challenge his preconceptions. Their unlikely friendship blossoms into a subtle, growing affection, prompting the son to confront the clash between his inherited aristocratic expectations and the untamed vitality of Irish life. As he wrestles with duty, desire, and the promise of redemption, the story unfolds with wit, moral reflection, and a vivid sense of place.
Language
en
Duration
~10 hours (588K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by David Widger from page images generously provided by the Internet Archive
Release date
2017-05-08
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1783–1859
A sharp, lively voice of Irish Romanticism, this novelist became famous for blending fiction, travel writing, and bold social commentary. Her books brought Irish life and politics to a wide readership in Britain and beyond.
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