Ormond by Maria Edgeworth is a captivating and thought-provoking novel that dives deep into the complexities of human behavior and societal expectations. The story follows the life of Harry Ormond, a young man who navigates the challenges of inheritance, relationships, and personal growth.

Edgeworth skillfully weaves together themes of class, identity, and morality, creating a rich tapestry of characters and events that keep the reader engaged from beginning to end. The protagonist, Harry Ormond, is a well-developed character who undergoes significant growth and transformation throughout the novel, making him relatable and compelling to follow.

The novel is set against the backdrop of 18th-century Ireland, providing a vivid and detailed glimpse into the social and political landscape of the time. Edgeworth's writing is both descriptive and engaging, transporting the reader into a different era with ease.

Overall, Ormond is a timeless work of literature that explores timeless themes with depth and nuance. Maria Edgeworth's keen insight into human nature and society makes this novel a must-read for anyone interested in character-driven storytelling and historical fiction.

Book Description:
Maria Edgeworth was one of the most popular writers of her time, a sharp and witty observer of society manners, and a favorite author for Jane Austen.

“Ormond,” published in 1817, is a “coming-of-age” novel, tracing a young man’s development as he approaches the age of majority. When we meet him, Harry Ormond has his “heart in the right place,” but is unsettled of character, naïve and impulsive. The central issue is: “What kind of man will he become?”

In part, Harry is influenced by the books he reads: Fielding’s “Tom Jones,” Richardson’s “Sir Charles Grandison,” and works of the French Enlightenment. More important, however, are influences from the company he keeps, much as Prince Hal in Shakespeare’s “Henry IV” takes shape as a reflection of the people around him. As an orphan, Harry had been adopted by Sir Ulick O’Shane, a man of society, full of subtlety and strategies, who exploits his public trust for private advantage . Harry also spends time with Sir Ulick’s cousin Cornelius, a Falstaffian figure of hearty good cheer and eccentric rural lifestyle. Later, Harry follows Cornelius’s daughter to Paris, where he witnesses the glamorous dissipation of French society in the years before the Revolution.

This novel explores the challenges of bringing together apparent oppositions: reconciling promised loyalty with assertion of self, Anglo-Irish landlords with their Irish tenants, Catholics with Protestants, and the impulsive heart with the rational head.

“Ormond” is named in the reference list “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” - Summary by Bruce Pirie