2. The Political and Social Scene

Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter I
2. Preface VII
3. Contents XI
4. Introduction
5. 1. The Weight of the Past 3
6. 2. The Political and Social Scene 17
7. 3 . The Nature of the Irish Novel 35
8. Maria Edgeworth
9. 4. Maria Edgeworth: The Crisis of the “Protestant Nation” 53
10. 5. Castle Rackrent 69
11. 6 . The Landlord as the Hero: Ennui and The Absentee 80
12. 7 . In Search of a Hero: Ormond 92
13. Lady Morgan
14. 8. Sentimental Patriotism: The Wild Irish Girl 109
15. 9 . The Politics of an Irish Novel 125
16. 10. The Houses of the West: The O’Briens and the O’Flahertys 147
17. John Banim
18. 11. Irish Peasants and English Readers 167
19. 12. The Historical Novel 188
20. Gerald Griffin
21. 13. Tales of the Munster Festivals 205
22. 14.. The Colleqians 219
23. 15. The Dark Land: The Rivals and Tracy’s Ambition 232
24. William Carleton
25. 16. A Pilgrim to Lough Derg and Dublin 255
26. 17. Traits and Stories of the Irish Peasantry 280
27. 18. The Dublin Years 300
28. Conclusion
29. 19. “Fiery Shorthand” 333
30. Bibliography 343
31. Acknowledgments 353
32. Index 355