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pjraff's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
beledit's review against another edition
5.0
I so enjoyed reading this again, for the second or maybe the third time. Reading Trollope is such a pleasure. Trollope was writing in the golden age of English literature, and it is no surprise that this remains one of the most-loved classic British novels. Wonderful prose, clever characterization, an engaging plot, plenty of interesting sub-plots, powerful satire, all leavened with gentle humour. The principal theme is the pervasive greed and dishonesty of society, with only a very few honest, high-minded individuals remaining immune. The majority are to different degrees grasping, social-climbing, ruthless and egotistical. And yet the tone of the novel is light, not dark and bitter. I listened to an audio version, beautifully read by Timothy West. Highly recommended.
m_berthelsen's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
serrasa's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
novellenovels's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kelswid's review against another edition
3.0
https://bookshouting210423985.wordpress.com/2019/04/10/worlds-foremost-leading-winifrid-hurtle-fan-4-10-19/
talhorn04's review against another edition
3.0
Boringg, wish there was more about the mum and melodrama i didnt care about the train/ business stuff
lbrex's review against another edition
5.0
A big, baggy journey through Victorian mercenary capitalism, with some wonderful characters, both in terms of those who are villains and those who come across as less objectionable. Perhaps the best thing about the novel is the way that Trollope interweaves the romantic entanglements with the homosocial world of financial speculation, such that the marriage plots and the speculation plots are often driving one another until they are hard to distinguish. I was especially impressed with the figures of Felix Carbury, a penniless baronet for whom money is the only form of social relation, his mother, Lady Carbury, an aspiring author (she writes a light historical work called _Criminal Queens_!) who will sacrifice herself and her daughter for her careless son, and the American widow Winifred Hurtle, who the narrator problematically describes as a "wild cat" and is rumored to have shot a man in the state of Oregon. This is perhaps the most page-turning work of Trollope's that I have read so far, and certainly one of his best, right up there with _Can You Forgive Her?_.
the_naptime_reader's review against another edition
5.0
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved the complexity of the characters and that there was no one was perfect, that they had faults and issues. Love stepping back in time into this rich text, and story with so many layers of plot. At times Trollope can be a bit verbose, and rambling, but I remained entertained and surprised by things from beginning to end.
pageofswords358's review against another edition
4.0
This rating is more of a place holder as I digest my thoughts on this one. Initial feelings are positive, but there are definitely elements of the story and the writing that I didn’t like.