Castle Richmond

Castle Richmond is a novel by British author Anthony Trollope. The story is set in Ireland and follows the lives of two families the Desmonds and the Fitzgeralds who are bound together by a tragic event. The novel begins with the death of Herbert Fitzgerald the heir to Castle Richmond the ancestral home of the Fitzgerald family. The Desmonds who are close friends of the Fitzgeralds are also affected by this event as their daughter Clara was engaged to Herbert. As the story unfolds it is revealed that Herberts death was caused by his own father who had mistakenly thought that his son was having an affair with Clara. This event leads to a series of tragedies and conflicts between the two families as they struggle to come to terms with their loss and deal with the fallout from this event. The novel provides a poignant portrayal of the social and political climate of Ireland during the 19th century as well as exploring themes of family love and betrayal. It is considered one of Trollopes finest works and a classic of Victorian literature.