Anthony Trollope
Barsetshire Chronicles, Book 2
Signet Classics. 1963. 535 pgs with afterword by Robert W. Daniel.
Originally published in three volumes in 1857.
Guardian 1000 challenge. Comedy titles.
Other Trollope books I’ve read: The Warden (blogged, 11/4/13) and The Way we Live Now (blogged, 10/12/13).
I know I’ve said this before but at the risk of being a little repetitive, I love, love, love this challenge for leading me to books and authors I would never have picked up — but ended up so happy with.
Regarding this particular title, I’m not alone. Barsetshire Towers is considered one of Trollope’s most-loved, most accessible, books. It is very funny. For once I wished I was reading it on the Kindle so I could have marked out the laugh-out-loud passages; there were many! The book is about power. Whether it be between church colleagues (huge fighters, here!), husbands and wives, men and women, masters and servants — there is a constant struggle for who has the upper hand. But Trollope keeps this theme light; no one is going to get deeply hurt here.
See more good Trollope goodies and info at this cool website: http://www.anthonytrollope.com/
This is the second book of Trollope’s six novel series, the Barsetshire Chronicles. The first, The Warden (1855), introduced us to several key characters who I assume (and hope) will reappear in the rest of the series. The Warden focused on Mr. Harding, a sweet and gentle churchman; his son-in-law, fire-breathing and hard-charging Archdeacon Grantly; his lovely but firm daughter, Eleanor, and a host of other characters. Barchester Towers continues their story and adds in more drama represented by the arrival of a new bishop, Rev. Proudie. Bishop Proudie’s entourage includes his obsequious and conniving chaplain, Mr. Slope and his strident, forceful and dictatorial wife, Mrs. Proudie (the real bishop!). A power struggle ensues between the forces of Grantly (high-church) and Slope (low-church). I confess that the intricacies of nineteenth-century English church politics escapes me, but there are enough references that I can discern the basic principles. However, these concepts take second place to the human characters who struggle for the upper hand in such a spiritual, religious manner! I thought a few times, hey, WWJD?
- Pros: lots of social satire, wonderful characterizations. I also love, love Trollope’s use of last names as a clue to the characters: domineering Mrs. Proudie, slimy Slope, social ladder-climbing Mrs. Lookaloft, and the Quiverful family (fourteen kids!) and many others.
- Cons: well, wordy. Even my Trollope-love gets worn down by the many side-plots and asides. Trollope likes to appeal to the reader in a blatant way which sometimes grated on my nerves when it didn’t advance the story.
Only one more Trollope on the Challenge list: book six of the Barsetshire Series. Now, this will represent a challenge to my OCD tendency to strictly read books series in order….should I read the intervening three books to get at the last one? I think I’ll spend some more time at: Anthony Trollope.com to get a feel for the intervening books. Maybe I’ll reward myself by checking out the BBC’s lovely miniseries based on the first two books, as well! Stay tuned!
