The Big House of Inver

by Edith Œnone Somerville, Violet Florence Martin

This novel, according to Somerville, "concerns the history of one of those minor dynasties that, in Ireland, have risen, and rules, and rioted, and crashed in ruins." "Somerville and Ross know their world as well as Jane Austen knew hers."―John Bayley.

Genres: Irish Literature

299 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

Edith Anna Œnone Somerville (1858 - 1949) was an Irish novelist who habitually signed herself as "E. Œ. Somerville". She wrote in collaboration with her cousin Violet Martin aka "Martin Ross" under the pseudonym "Somerville and Ross". Her 'Irish RM' books were made into a TV series in 1983



See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edith_S...

Reviews

[Alistair Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an engaging and entertaining novel set in the West of Ireland shortly before WW1 albeit the setting in terms of the period isn't relevant to the plot. It essentially tells the story of a family, increasingly impoverished over the centuries by marrying below themselves, poor management and drink until it comes to the story of the young heir Kit and his older, illegitimate half sister Shibby who acts as a mother figure. It's a well observed story of rural Ireland and a pleasant read.
Recommended