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sashahawkins's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
kailey_luminouslibro's review against another edition
4.0
This was a solid five-star book, and then the ending! I'm so angry at the ending! There's a sweet couple that I wanted to get together at the end, and they ended up apart! Gah! What kind of stupid ending is this?!? I'm so mad and disappointed and frustrated. I stuck with those two characters through two very lengthy books because I thought that in the end, it would all be worth it, and they would be happy together, and now they are miserable forever. And I'm miserable forever. I hate this. *frowny face*
Other than that, this is another masterpiece in the Barsetshire series. The story is compelling, the characters wildly interesting; the writing is genius, and I love the way that Trollope takes little every day doings of a small town and makes suspense and drama from it.
I have loved this whole series, and every other character gets a happy ending. Every other story arc has a satisfying conclusion. But this one story arc, these two characters, somehow Trollope suddenly decided to be a jerk and make them miserable. WHYYYY????
Other than that, this is another masterpiece in the Barsetshire series. The story is compelling, the characters wildly interesting; the writing is genius, and I love the way that Trollope takes little every day doings of a small town and makes suspense and drama from it.
I have loved this whole series, and every other character gets a happy ending. Every other story arc has a satisfying conclusion. But this one story arc, these two characters, somehow Trollope suddenly decided to be a jerk and make them miserable. WHYYYY????
novellenovels's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
tome15's review against another edition
5.0
Trollope, Anthony. The Last Chronicle of Barset. 1867. Chronicle of Barsetshire No.6. Edited by Sophie Gilmartin. Penguin, 2002.
As Trollope says goodbye to characters his readers have been involved with for a dozen years, he serves up a full meal of his brand of low-key realism. There are several stories of romance and young love, requited and unrequited. He also dissects several longtime marriages, some successful, some not so much. There are no perfect heroes or heroines here—even the best are flawed, and even the worst have one or two redeeming qualities. He does not show us any gruesome murders, but there is one suicide that takes place decently off stage. There are no starving orphans, but there is poverty. He never lets us forget that his society is one without any kind of social safety net. Middleclass families can be ruined, and the condition of an unmarried woman without money or family is desperate. So when a father threatens to stop the allowance and write out of his will a son who wants to marry a woman whose father has been accused of stealing twenty pounds—that matters, and Trollope makes his readers feel and understand the stakes. You do not have to read all five of its predecessors in the series to follow along, but the first two or three would certainly help. The Trollope Society has an excellent web site that provides thumbnail descriptions of characters you might have missed of forgotten.
As Trollope says goodbye to characters his readers have been involved with for a dozen years, he serves up a full meal of his brand of low-key realism. There are several stories of romance and young love, requited and unrequited. He also dissects several longtime marriages, some successful, some not so much. There are no perfect heroes or heroines here—even the best are flawed, and even the worst have one or two redeeming qualities. He does not show us any gruesome murders, but there is one suicide that takes place decently off stage. There are no starving orphans, but there is poverty. He never lets us forget that his society is one without any kind of social safety net. Middleclass families can be ruined, and the condition of an unmarried woman without money or family is desperate. So when a father threatens to stop the allowance and write out of his will a son who wants to marry a woman whose father has been accused of stealing twenty pounds—that matters, and Trollope makes his readers feel and understand the stakes. You do not have to read all five of its predecessors in the series to follow along, but the first two or three would certainly help. The Trollope Society has an excellent web site that provides thumbnail descriptions of characters you might have missed of forgotten.
jersy's review against another edition
3.0
While it has the typical charm of Trollope's books and it was wonderful to see so many characters from the series return, this book was way too drawn out and repetitive. I had to take several breaks reading other books to keep enjoying it at all.
However, I liked all the stories told in this novel and it was a very appropriate and heartfelt ending to this series.
However, I liked all the stories told in this novel and it was a very appropriate and heartfelt ending to this series.
manwithanagenda's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
'The Last Chronicle of Barset' is a novel about Privilege, and how when you have Privilege you suffer more than common people, whose lives being always terrible, are used to it and don't feel pain. Trollope goes to great lengths to prove to the reader that starving in a hovel doesn't compare to the exquisite pain of not having a new pair of evening gloves. Trollope may have an upswing in popularity in the next four years.
Josiah Crawley had first made an appearance in Framley Parsonage as a poverty-stricken curate of a poor district, far away from the usual comforts enjoyed by the clergy in these novels. Crawley's situation has improved in some ways, since a few of his children have died, but shame is about to come down on his head. He would almost rather the family be put out onto the streets than take assistance from concerned friends.
Crawley's final shame comes about at the start of the novel when a tradesmen, a butcher, pressures Rev. Crawley to pay a bill and so he pays with a banknote that...it appears he's stolen! He cannot account for how it came into his possession. It is the talk of the county and, unfortunately, is spoiling his daughter's chances of marriage with a son of the Archdeacon.
Jane Crawley is too noble by half to let herself marry the man she loves and drag the Grantly's into shame, but like so many other Trollope heroines, she is suspected of the lowest motives and never given information she has every right to possess until the last minute. Her story is a decent one, but the heart of the novel is in the slow fading of Septimus Harding, the former Warden, and Lily Dale, whose continued refusal to ever marry at the end 'The Small House' is tested. She is thrown up against all the former heroines of Barchester, each one, yes, even Miss Dunstable, washed of personality by marriage.
This novel was not as rewarding as others by Trollope, but it at least tied up any loose ends and it did justice to more characters than not. The majority of the authors attention was already turning to the politics of London rather than the clerical gentry that were the heart of the Barchester stories.
Previous: 'The Small House at Allington'
Josiah Crawley had first made an appearance in Framley Parsonage as a poverty-stricken curate of a poor district, far away from the usual comforts enjoyed by the clergy in these novels. Crawley's situation has improved in some ways, since a few of his children have died, but shame is about to come down on his head. He would almost rather the family be put out onto the streets than take assistance from concerned friends.
Crawley's final shame comes about at the start of the novel when a tradesmen, a butcher, pressures Rev. Crawley to pay a bill and so he pays with a banknote that...it appears he's stolen! He cannot account for how it came into his possession. It is the talk of the county and, unfortunately, is spoiling his daughter's chances of marriage with a son of the Archdeacon.
Jane Crawley is too noble by half to let herself marry the man she loves and drag the Grantly's into shame, but like so many other Trollope heroines, she is suspected of the lowest motives and never given information she has every right to possess until the last minute. Her story is a decent one, but the heart of the novel is in the slow fading of Septimus Harding, the former Warden, and Lily Dale, whose continued refusal to ever marry at the end 'The Small House' is tested. She is thrown up against all the former heroines of Barchester, each one, yes, even Miss Dunstable, washed of personality by marriage.
This novel was not as rewarding as others by Trollope, but it at least tied up any loose ends and it did justice to more characters than not. The majority of the authors attention was already turning to the politics of London rather than the clerical gentry that were the heart of the Barchester stories.
Previous: 'The Small House at Allington'
suzmac's review against another edition
4.0
Still enthralled with this author. This is a sad tale of preacher accused of theft and coming to ruin in the surrounds of local politics, comic characters, suitors, marriage proposals, and financial ruin. Continues memorable story of Lily Dale from The Small House at Allington.
ruthiella's review against another edition
4.0
So this is it. The last book from Barsetshire (unless you consider the Angela Thirkel’s early to mid 20th century continuations) that I will ever read. I freely admit that I cried when Septimus Harding breathed his last. I know that some people hate The Warden, the first book in this series while enjoying other Trollope titles, but I do not understand such people. It was that book that made me love Mr. Harding and ultimately Trollope. I owe it everything and I love it unreservedly. I have so enjoyed vicariously hanging out in Barsetshire these past few years. It might be the fictional world I would like to live in (next to St. Mary Mead) but only if I could be like Mrs. Thorne and be fabulously wealthy and yet still lower middle class. Just like I am now really, just minus the cash.
I do have a hard time imagining a young, good looking man with mutton chops, despite the current trend of young men and facial hair. So any time young Johnny Eames or Major Grantley strokes his whiskers, I admit, I have to imagine him clean shaven. But that is really the only one of the few set-backs I have in reading Trollope and (to me at least) his realistic portrayals of 19th century middle to upper class life and his brief forays into the lives of the poor as well: “I fear that they were not always good to their wives, nor were their wives always good to them; but it should be remembered that among the poor, especially when they live in clusters, such misfortunes cannot be hidden as they may be amidst the decent belongings of more wealthy people.” I find that observation to be still true today.
Equally, I appreciate that none of Trollope characters are wholly bad. For those who have read the book, they will understand when I write that even Mrs. Proudie gets some insight and sympathy here. Although I did want to punch Mr. Crawley throughout most of the book. Lily Dale did drive me a bit bonkers too, but let not the reader absolve John Eames as he shares just as much of the blame in my opinion. And I do understand where Lily is coming from; I would dig my heels in too if everyone kept telling me what I “should“ do without my asking for advice and/or if my personal life were so openly discussed among strangers.
I also think that Trollope is funny. To wit: “After this the archdeacon walked away, and would not argue the matter any further with his wife at that moment. He knew very well that he could not get the better of her, and was apt at such moments to think that she took an unfair advantage of him by keeping her temper.”
I do have a hard time imagining a young, good looking man with mutton chops, despite the current trend of young men and facial hair. So any time young Johnny Eames or Major Grantley strokes his whiskers, I admit, I have to imagine him clean shaven. But that is really the only one of the few set-backs I have in reading Trollope and (to me at least) his realistic portrayals of 19th century middle to upper class life and his brief forays into the lives of the poor as well: “I fear that they were not always good to their wives, nor were their wives always good to them; but it should be remembered that among the poor, especially when they live in clusters, such misfortunes cannot be hidden as they may be amidst the decent belongings of more wealthy people.” I find that observation to be still true today.
Equally, I appreciate that none of Trollope characters are wholly bad. For those who have read the book, they will understand when I write that even Mrs. Proudie gets some insight and sympathy here. Although I did want to punch Mr. Crawley throughout most of the book. Lily Dale did drive me a bit bonkers too, but let not the reader absolve John Eames as he shares just as much of the blame in my opinion. And I do understand where Lily is coming from; I would dig my heels in too if everyone kept telling me what I “should“ do without my asking for advice and/or if my personal life were so openly discussed among strangers.
I also think that Trollope is funny. To wit: “After this the archdeacon walked away, and would not argue the matter any further with his wife at that moment. He knew very well that he could not get the better of her, and was apt at such moments to think that she took an unfair advantage of him by keeping her temper.”
catebutler's review against another edition
5.0
What a satisfying finish to a fabulous series. I have absolutely loved my foray into the writing of Anthony Trollope with my Trollope reading group on IG. Even though it was a bittersweet moment finishing this last book in the Barsetshire Chronicles. I can’t wait for us to read more from him, it’s a good thing he was such a prolific writer!