Patronage provides a fascinating glimpse into the society of the time, from the aristocracy and ballrooms of London to the life of a young doctor or lawyer on the make. The story centers on two families, the Percies, who work hard and are all sickeningly prudent and virtuous, and the Falconers, who live by scheming.

Maria Edgeworth focuses in this novel on the various types of patronage and the many forms it takes in all strata of English society through her ingenious use of variations in characterizations and a well diversified plot. Much like her contemporary, Jane Austen, Edgeworth had a gift for conveying social conventions through brilliant dialogue and acute moral observations.