Episode 1

Ireland. Old Thady has served under four disastrous generations of the Rackrents:

* Sir Patrick drinks
* Sir Murtagh litigates
* Sir Kit gambles
* Sir Condy (Sir Connolly) merely fritters away the family fortunes

Yet he is still the ever-faithful retainer at the bankrupt Castle Rackrent.

Old Thady begins with his recollectionthat it was Sir Patrick O'Shaughlin who earned the nickname 'Sir Patrick Rackrent' due to his extravagance....

Maria Edgeworth's satire on Anglo-Irish landlords, first published in 1800.

Read by Cyril Cusack.

Omnibus of the first three of eight parts abridged by John Scotney.

Producer: Jeremy Howe

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 1989.