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dragonarts's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Mr. George Bertram Sr is our only 🦎 lizard man, but he does fulfill his office! 2/10 lizardness, 2/10 evilness, and 0/10 squishability.
VERY slow, with lots of internal monologue. Honestly, a lot of the book feels like wasted time, but it's all the more pleasant for it. Plot is somewhat unoriginal, reflecting such works as Dombey and Son. I can see reading more of Trollope, but this book will probably remain my least favorite of his.
Has potential, misses the mark.
VERY slow, with lots of internal monologue. Honestly, a lot of the book feels like wasted time, but it's all the more pleasant for it. Plot is somewhat unoriginal, reflecting such works as Dombey and Son. I can see reading more of Trollope, but this book will probably remain my least favorite of his.
Has potential, misses the mark.
Content Warnings
Minor: Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Suicide, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual violence, Cultural appropriation, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Colonisation, Death of parent, Grief, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, and Death
schopflin's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
One of the more tragic of Trollope's explorations of expectations, ambition, money and marriage. I think he did it with more subtlety in later books, and gave more time and space to the intelligent women than the stupid men. However I still enjoyed it. A friend has pointed out that clean-shaven Trollope heroes always suffer ...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs
pgchuis's review against another edition
4.0
George Bertram decides to become a barrister, since his rich uncle has made it clear that George will not be his heir. George's friend, Arthur (a minister), decides not to ask Adela to marry him because he believes he cannot afford it. George travels to Jerusalem to meet his father, the unreliable and selfish Sir Lionel and there meets and becomes engaged to Caroline, but their romance is broken off.
I delayed reading this novel because I thought it was set in Jerusalem, but in fact only a few of the chapters are set there (with a later section describing a trip to Egypt). Some of the observations about what the church has done to Jerusalem were very interesting and George's spiritual experience on Mount of Olives was quite moving, but there were many passages describing the local populations in terms which are wholly unacceptable today. In general in Trollope I have found references (usually to Jews) which grate, but this novel took things to a whole other level and made me understand that the Victorians did clearly believe that cleanliness is next to godliness - I think Trollope managed to describe almost every non-Christian character as dirty at some point.
That aside, I found this story very enjoyable. Adela was a delight. George and Caroline got what they deserved and then for a moment it looked as if Trollope was going to bless them with a second chance, but the very ending shows that he was not quite able completely to forgive Caroline for marrying without intending to love, which seems to be the unforgivable sin for Trollope. Miss Todd and Sir Lionel provided some comic relief, although I didn't really enjoy the chapter describing the trip home from Egypt - Mrs Cox and Mrs Price didn't seem to fit into the novel at all. I'm glad Mrs Wilkinson was humbled.
I delayed reading this novel because I thought it was set in Jerusalem, but in fact only a few of the chapters are set there (with a later section describing a trip to Egypt). Some of the observations about what the church has done to Jerusalem were very interesting and George's spiritual experience on Mount of Olives was quite moving, but there were many passages describing the local populations in terms which are wholly unacceptable today. In general in Trollope I have found references (usually to Jews) which grate, but this novel took things to a whole other level and made me understand that the Victorians did clearly believe that cleanliness is next to godliness - I think Trollope managed to describe almost every non-Christian character as dirty at some point.
That aside, I found this story very enjoyable. Adela was a delight. George and Caroline got what they deserved and then for a moment it looked as if Trollope was going to bless them with a second chance, but the very ending shows that he was not quite able completely to forgive Caroline for marrying without intending to love, which seems to be the unforgivable sin for Trollope. Miss Todd and Sir Lionel provided some comic relief, although I didn't really enjoy the chapter describing the trip home from Egypt - Mrs Cox and Mrs Price didn't seem to fit into the novel at all. I'm glad Mrs Wilkinson was humbled.
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