Maria Edgeworth, a celebrated author of her time and a beloved writer among literary giants like Jane Austen, invites readers into the world of “Ormond,” her captivating 1817 coming-of-age novel. The story follows Harry Ormond, a young man with his “heart in the right place,” yet struggling with his character as he navigates the challenges of adolescence. As he approaches adulthood, the central question looms “What kind of man will he become?” Influenced by the literature he consumes—works by Fielding, Richardson, and the French Enlightenment—Harry’s true development, however, is shaped by the company he keeps. From the cunning Sir Ulick O’Shane, who uses his societal position for personal gain, to the jolly Cornelius, who lives whimsically as the “King of the Black Islands,” Harry’s journey leads him to Paris, where he witnesses the lavish excesses of French society just before the Revolution. “Ormond” intricately explores the balance of conflicting ideals, from loyalty versus self-assertion to the tensions between Anglo-Irish landlords and their Irish tenants, and the clash of impulsive emotion with rational thought. Notably, this novel is featured in the esteemed list of 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. - Summary by Bruce Pirie

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