In the High Peaks
















Sunday, January 29, 2023

Classics Club Spin: Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope

Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope was an adventure. I’d never read any of his work and I didn’t know much about him. I found it interesting that he was writing during the same time period as Charles Dickens, at mid-century.

It was fascinating to learn just how complex the Church of England community was in a cathedral city, with bishops and arch-bishops, deacons and arch-deacons, deans, prebenderies (sic?) and on and on! I enjoyed the satire and the comedy, and most of all the unforgettable characters! Mrs. Proudie and her strangled efforts to fill the vacuum sucked dry by the most do-nothing character in literature, her husband, the bishop. If ever there was a non-character, an ineffectual zero who took up lots of space, it was Dr. Proudie, the bishop! The Signora was a creation of pure genius—I do think Trollope’s greatest strength was the breadth and depth and the imagination that he used to draw each of his characters. They will stick with me forever!

And it’s wonderful to read a book that has such a satisfying, rousing ending. I must admit I felt the most pleased (because it was a total surprise) with the way things finally ended so well for the long, long-suffering Dr. Harding.

This is definitely a book worth reading, but I must admit that I think it’s unlikely I’ll read another of Trollope’s novels. There are so many other 19th-century English novels that I’ve enjoyed much more, and I still have more books by treasured authors of this time to read. But I am so glad that I read it, especially after knowing how so many of you have enjoyed his novels. 

17 comments:

  1. I enjoyed this one too and will probably read Dr. Thorne sometime this year. Soon, perhaps. But you're right there a lot of other 19th. century novelists to get your teeth into. I must try something by Elizabeth Gaskell for instance, Dinah Craik, Margaret Oliphant, and more by Wilkie Collins. Plus I want to read a couple of the Dickens novels I haven't read, Our Mutual Friend, Pickwick Papers, Dombey & Son etc. There's a lass on Youtube who is brilliant on Victorian literature and I'm learning a lot from her. Isn't it fun?

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    1. I'm with you! I don't think I've read Gaskell or Oliphant (though I have one of the latter's in the house), and Dinah Craik? Oh, gosh, I don't know of her. And I do want to read more Wilkie Collins!! And yes, indeed! I do have more Dickens novels to read--whatever am I doing reading totally contemporary fiction? And do pray tell who is a whiz on Victorian fiction?? Would love to know!

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    2. I love my contemporary fiction so I wouldn't want to go over entirely to classics as some people do. I do want to try and read half a dozen or so this year though. The lass on Youtube is Katie Lumsden whose debut novel is out this month in fact. Her channel is here: https://www.youtube.com/@katiejlumsden
      I really love her enthusiasm.

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    3. Thanks, Cath, for the Youtube link! Sorry I'm so late in responding. I know exactly what you mean about needing a contemporary/classics fiction balance. Do I ever! The past 3 weeks have been overly busy for me with less time for reading. I really want to maintain 2 hours of reading per day. I guess I need to adjust to my new schedule and MAKE TIME to read. That's all there is to it.

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  2. I'm so glad you enjoyed this, Judith. I find Trollope to be easier reading than Dickens while still being wildly entertaining. I loved the all of the Barchester Chronicles!

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    1. Hi JoAnn,
      As much as I'm glad I read Barchester Towers, I must admit I much prefer all the Dickens novels I've read, and I still have more to read--gosh! I actually have found Dickens to be more interesting than Trollope, though I shouldn't say based on just having read only one of Trollope's novels.

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  3. I still haven't read anything by Trollope. I plan to read The Warden for my Classics List. And will follow up with more after that it it appeals.

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    1. Hi Tracy,
      I wish you happy reading with The Warden. Barchester Towers comes after that one, and is the second in the series. It was entertaining, but I felt bogged down at times with it. But I'm very glad I read it!

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  4. Hi. I have not read any Trollope but I love Dickens. I get taken away by Dickens' novels every time I pick one up. I'm glad you persevered with this one. I hope all is well where you are. Do you have much snow now? Cheers.

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    1. Oh, how I love Dickens! And I still have many more to look forward to. I much prefer Dickens to Trollope, based only on my reading of Barchester Towers. Dickens is so rich in characters, setting, imagination, and plot!
      We have some snow, but have not had as much on the ground as we usually do, which is too bad. Still I've had lots and lots of grand hikes on groomed trails maintained by neighbors with lovely woodlands, so have not minded as much as I might have. Still! We need snow! And as things are warming and warming again, it's seeming less and less likely that we will get it.

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    2. Yes we need snow too for the X-country ski trails. We've had a mild winter lately, but winter could be returning next week. hmm. I agree with you about Dickens!

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  5. I'm definitely on the side of Trollope, he called Dickens Mr Sentimentality. I've read a lot of Trollope, but you should try to watch the BBC Barchester Chronicles. Geraldine McEwen was perfect as Mrs Proudie and Alan Rickman brilliant as the slimey Mr Slope.

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    1. How I'd love to see Alan Rickman as Mr. Slope! Perfect casting. I don't know Geraldine McEwan. I'll search for that production, but in the past have not had much luck with older BBC productions.

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  6. I like Trollope but don't think I have the patience to read him these days. I began after PBS had some great adaptations so I was motivated them to piece Barsetshire together. In truth, I probably prefer Angela Thirkell who took his county and some of his characters.

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  7. I have never read Thirkell--I'll have to try reading her. Thanks!

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  8. There's a weird thing about Trollope for me. While I am reading one of his novels, I am engrossed, but when I am done, I cannot remember much about it. I know I liked Barchester Towers when I read it, but I also remember some brain freezes when the ecclesiastical stuff became overwhelming! I actually like other novels in this series much better than this one--Dr Thorne was great if you ever feel like reading another Trollope.

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  9. The old PBS Trollope adaptations with Susan Hampshire were great, if still available.

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