Collegians, The

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 lowly--but very beautiful--Eily O'Connor. 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 deception--secretly marrying Eily, while succumbing to his mother's 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 plot--involving love, rivalry, secrecy, and betrayal--inspiring many imitations.