The Collegians (Crime Classics)

About this book

A romantic melodrama set in rural Ireland in the early 19th century this complex story of love rivalry secrecy and betrayal based on a real case of 1829 was one of the most successful thrillers of its day Young Hardress Cregan is a collegian and a rogue with a wicked roving eye. Although he is courting his wealthy cousin Anne he has also embarked on a passionate love affair with the lowlybut very beautifulEily OConnor. Hardress knows that his family would never approve of this match and he should abandon his new fancy but his lust overwhelms his conscience and he embarks on a fatal deceptionsecretly marrying Eily while succumbing to his mothers machinations and becoming engaged to Anne. How will Hardress extricate himself from this dilemma? Together with his hunchback half-brother Danny Mann he hatches a deadly conspiracy. Originally published in 1829 and inspired by a celebrated criminal case this novel was a sensation in its day making Killarney a tourist attraction and its thrilling plotinvolving love rivalry secrecy and betrayalinspiring many imitations.