"An ambitious work, and Maria Edgeworth's most commercially successful novel, Patronage is an astute and humorous portrayal of the British class system and the different ways in which men and women make their way in the world. Written in 1814, this magnificent novel is not only a comedy of manners but also a meditation on the concept of "patronage", both financial and sexual. The plot revolves around two families--the Percys and the Falconers--whose fortunes mirror and contrast each other. The Falconers accept patronage from Lord Oldborough but by the end of the book it is the Percys who are perceived as possessing the greater moral worth and wealth by dint of their own efforts."--Back cover.