A review by ed_moore
Castle Rackrent by Maria Edgeworth

informative reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.75

Edgeworth’s ‘Castle Rackrent’ is a telling of the history of the Rackrent family by their loyal servant Thady Quirk. It has a focus on preserving Irish independence and legacy by discussing the noble families history and affairs, in the name of placing the Irish man on a pedestal. It was emphasised that the editor of the fictional chronicle could’ve glamourised the history further, though chose not to to preserve true history (though the Rackrent’s are fictional anyhow). In how mundane Edgeworth made the history, I would argue it wasn’t a chronicle in desperate need of telling for whilst there are key events and points of note they weren’t written in the most engaging of ways and really the only defining factors of the noble family were debt and alcoholism, with sprinkles of anti-semitism too. Overall I don’t believe the initial premise was particularly great, and Edgeworth’s writing failed to do much to enhance it.