Guardian Newspaper 1000 Novels discussion

You could read this book as just a sometimes funny, sometimes sad tale of a rich family on the decline. Perhaps it was the influence of the Introduction, but I couldn't help noticing how the book also deals with English vs. Irish, Anglo-Irish landowners vs. Irish peasants, and stereotypes about Jewish women. Did that strike you, and what did you think about it?

I completely agree. Just about every page throws up some kind of comment on relationships between various groups in society. The fact that Thady narrates his experience of these relationships in very simple words makes it to my mind an even more powerful commentary.