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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
slow-paced
The death of the bishop of the fictional town of Barchester sets in motion a pitched battle of religion in this book by Anthony Trollope. One one side is the new bishop, his domineering wife, and his ambitious new chaplain, Mr. Slope. On the other side is practically every other member of the clergy in the town, from the dean, the archbishop, and the entire chapter.
Entangled in the dispute is mild Mr. Harding, formerly warden of the Barchester hospital, providing bed and care for 12 worthy aged men. A scandal forces him from his position and threatens to split the town in half. Mr. Harding's widowed daughter Mrs. Bold is another focus of the story, this time providing the romance. With three eligible men seeking her hand - or is it her fortune - she remains oblivious until her hand is almost literally forced.
I was surprised to find myself really enjoying this book. The beginning was rather rough, started as it does with solely ecclesiastical matters. I know nothing at all of the organization of the Anglican church and was bewildered by the politics involved. But once the personalities behind the offices began to emerge, I was really hooked. The style is rather old-fashioned, but not so much that I couldn't read it quickly. Highly recommended - lots of fun.
Entangled in the dispute is mild Mr. Harding, formerly warden of the Barchester hospital, providing bed and care for 12 worthy aged men. A scandal forces him from his position and threatens to split the town in half. Mr. Harding's widowed daughter Mrs. Bold is another focus of the story, this time providing the romance. With three eligible men seeking her hand - or is it her fortune - she remains oblivious until her hand is almost literally forced.
I was surprised to find myself really enjoying this book. The beginning was rather rough, started as it does with solely ecclesiastical matters. I know nothing at all of the organization of the Anglican church and was bewildered by the politics involved. But once the personalities behind the offices began to emerge, I was really hooked. The style is rather old-fashioned, but not so much that I couldn't read it quickly. Highly recommended - lots of fun.
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book starts out slow, and I found some of the characters quite irritating at first, but once I got past the first few chapters, the tangled web of human silliness begins to have its effect. I found myself thoroughly engaged with all the "little" problems the characters create for themselves through cross-purposes, miscommunication, and conflicting interests.
Trollope's Barsetshire novels do a magnificent job of showing that humanity is the same everywhere, and in their small community, conflicts that barely make a ripple in the wider world are just as momentous as wars or changes in world leadership.
Trollope's Barsetshire novels do a magnificent job of showing that humanity is the same everywhere, and in their small community, conflicts that barely make a ripple in the wider world are just as momentous as wars or changes in world leadership.
Such an interesting read. For an Israeli in the 21st century, the subject of this book is as far removed from me as science fiction. Other than the stories of humans and human emotions.
And Trollope is very good at this - the human condition, well-rounded characters, small but fascinating stories. You can't help but become enraptured by the stories he tell and the people in it
Also, Bertie Stanhope and the Signora were such fascinating and completely modern characters, it was a delight to read them.
This book lost a star for me in the review because I don't care how people thought in the 19th century, reading "dirty jew" is not nice.
And Trollope is very good at this - the human condition, well-rounded characters, small but fascinating stories. You can't help but become enraptured by the stories he tell and the people in it
Also, Bertie Stanhope and the Signora were such fascinating and completely modern characters, it was a delight to read them.
This book lost a star for me in the review because I don't care how people thought in the 19th century, reading "dirty jew" is not nice.
funny
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3,5 stars. This is the sequel to "The Warden". We follow most of the characters from that book with a few additions.
All of our characters stay true to their characters and some of the new ones are striking and life-like. The writing is good. The reader gets the sense that the novel consist of many scenes. Some of these are a bit drab, but some are funny and witty. However, the reader also gets the sense that the writer is leading us in a certain direction, especially when he gives away one of the plot points early on in a pointless meta insertion.
All of our characters stay true to their characters and some of the new ones are striking and life-like. The writing is good. The reader gets the sense that the novel consist of many scenes. Some of these are a bit drab, but some are funny and witty. However, the reader also gets the sense that the writer is leading us in a certain direction, especially when he gives away one of the plot points early on in a pointless meta insertion.
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
The Bishop of Barchester is dying but who will take power, it will all depend on what day he dies and who in the Government is in power. Unforunately for the clerics of Barchester it is Dr Proudie with his scheming wife and Chaplain Obadiah Slope. How will all their lives be affected.
An entertaining story, a re-read.
An entertaining story, a re-read.
It was with a keen sense of anticipation that I turned to Trollope once again to read the second in his Barsetshire Chronicles series, Barchester Towers. I had read the first, The Warden in 2013 and found it to be a wonderful reading experience; thus, the bar was set high. I was not disappointed.
In Barchester Towers, we again meet the humble clergyman and thoroughly good man, now ex-warden, Mr. Harding and his family. There is his most beloved daughter Eleanor Bold, now Widow Bold with a young son upon whom she shamelessly dotes. And there is the older daughter, Susan, and her husband, Archdeacon Grantly and their children. All of these characters are integral to the story told here.
But this book introduces new characters who will put their stamp upon Barsetshire and particularly Barchester.
There is a new bishop in town. His name is Dr. Proudie and he is certainly one of the most indecisive men ever to hold such an office. He is ruled in turn by his wife Mrs. Proudie, who gives new meaning to the adjectives stiff-necked and power-hungry. She determines to be the bishop in fact, if not in name.
However, Mrs. Proudie has some competition. It is the bishop's own chaplain, the oily Mr. Slope. He certainly matches Mrs. Proudie in ambition and in his desire to rule the bishop. He also has great plans for moving his own career along. One part of that plan is to find a suitable wife who will be an asset in his scramble to the top of ecclesiastical society, not just in Basetshire but in the country. Soon enough, his eye lights on the Widow Bold as a likely candidate to fill that office.
We also meet Mr. Quiverful, vicar of Puddingdale, a godly man, who along with his long-suffering wife, must try to make a way in the world for their fourteen living children, with another added just about every year.
Then there is Mr. Arabin, lately of Oxford, and a friend of Dr. Grantly. The archdeacon brings him to Barchester to fill a clerical post, hoping that he will be a counterweight to the odious Mr. Slope whom he hates.
And lastly, we have the Stanhope family, lately in residence in Carrara, Italy, but now called home by the bishop to take up the office which the head of the family, Dr. Stanhope had held titularly but in absentia. The bishop and Barchester get a bit more than bargained for in the Stanhopes. They prove to be a rather dissolute family - or at least two of their children, Bertie and Madeline, do. But their influence, in the end, is not all bad.
Trollope's writing was most certainly tailored to the tastes of his 19th century audience. He is extraordinary in the pacing of his story and with the great care that he gives to the development and exposition of his characters. We come to know these people very well indeed. In fact, some readers complain about the time that Trollope takes in this book in setting up his characters. Virtually half the book is spent on these introductions and reintroductions, but he does it all so deftly, so flawlessly, and with such beautiful use of language that I never felt the urge, as I sometimes do with writers, to say, "Oh, just get on with it!"
Trollope invests his readers in the lives of his characters and compels us to be interested in their actions or, in some cases, inaction. Most of all, he makes us understand what motivates them - usually something to do with church life since that is what dominates Barchester society. All of that takes time and he never rushes the process. I can see how that would make some twenty-first century readers twitchy. Not me. I revel in it.
When we get to the action of this book, it is all about the struggle for ecclesiastical power in Barchester. After five years, the office of warden is still not filled and that is the initial focus of the struggle as Mrs. Proudie and Mr. Slope push to influence the bishop in making a choice of the candidates. The sentimental choice is Mr. Harding, but the post would mean economic salvation to the Quiverful family if Mr. Quiverful should be chosen. Meanwhile, the main concern of the powers that be - or would be - is to choose a candidate who will enhance their own standing. And none is too concerned about the means that are used to achieve that end.
Now, with all of this clerical pushing and pulling, toing and froing, you might think you would find yourself sighing in frustration. Trust me. You won't. This is a very funny book!
It is in its essence a satire and Trollope makes rich use of comedy and humor to expose the ridiculousness of human nature which hasn't improved at all in 158 years. He's still spot on.
In Barchester Towers, we again meet the humble clergyman and thoroughly good man, now ex-warden, Mr. Harding and his family. There is his most beloved daughter Eleanor Bold, now Widow Bold with a young son upon whom she shamelessly dotes. And there is the older daughter, Susan, and her husband, Archdeacon Grantly and their children. All of these characters are integral to the story told here.
But this book introduces new characters who will put their stamp upon Barsetshire and particularly Barchester.
There is a new bishop in town. His name is Dr. Proudie and he is certainly one of the most indecisive men ever to hold such an office. He is ruled in turn by his wife Mrs. Proudie, who gives new meaning to the adjectives stiff-necked and power-hungry. She determines to be the bishop in fact, if not in name.
However, Mrs. Proudie has some competition. It is the bishop's own chaplain, the oily Mr. Slope. He certainly matches Mrs. Proudie in ambition and in his desire to rule the bishop. He also has great plans for moving his own career along. One part of that plan is to find a suitable wife who will be an asset in his scramble to the top of ecclesiastical society, not just in Basetshire but in the country. Soon enough, his eye lights on the Widow Bold as a likely candidate to fill that office.
We also meet Mr. Quiverful, vicar of Puddingdale, a godly man, who along with his long-suffering wife, must try to make a way in the world for their fourteen living children, with another added just about every year.
Then there is Mr. Arabin, lately of Oxford, and a friend of Dr. Grantly. The archdeacon brings him to Barchester to fill a clerical post, hoping that he will be a counterweight to the odious Mr. Slope whom he hates.
And lastly, we have the Stanhope family, lately in residence in Carrara, Italy, but now called home by the bishop to take up the office which the head of the family, Dr. Stanhope had held titularly but in absentia. The bishop and Barchester get a bit more than bargained for in the Stanhopes. They prove to be a rather dissolute family - or at least two of their children, Bertie and Madeline, do. But their influence, in the end, is not all bad.
Trollope's writing was most certainly tailored to the tastes of his 19th century audience. He is extraordinary in the pacing of his story and with the great care that he gives to the development and exposition of his characters. We come to know these people very well indeed. In fact, some readers complain about the time that Trollope takes in this book in setting up his characters. Virtually half the book is spent on these introductions and reintroductions, but he does it all so deftly, so flawlessly, and with such beautiful use of language that I never felt the urge, as I sometimes do with writers, to say, "Oh, just get on with it!"
Trollope invests his readers in the lives of his characters and compels us to be interested in their actions or, in some cases, inaction. Most of all, he makes us understand what motivates them - usually something to do with church life since that is what dominates Barchester society. All of that takes time and he never rushes the process. I can see how that would make some twenty-first century readers twitchy. Not me. I revel in it.
When we get to the action of this book, it is all about the struggle for ecclesiastical power in Barchester. After five years, the office of warden is still not filled and that is the initial focus of the struggle as Mrs. Proudie and Mr. Slope push to influence the bishop in making a choice of the candidates. The sentimental choice is Mr. Harding, but the post would mean economic salvation to the Quiverful family if Mr. Quiverful should be chosen. Meanwhile, the main concern of the powers that be - or would be - is to choose a candidate who will enhance their own standing. And none is too concerned about the means that are used to achieve that end.
Now, with all of this clerical pushing and pulling, toing and froing, you might think you would find yourself sighing in frustration. Trust me. You won't. This is a very funny book!
It is in its essence a satire and Trollope makes rich use of comedy and humor to expose the ridiculousness of human nature which hasn't improved at all in 158 years. He's still spot on.