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cemoses's review
4.0
It is slow but those who like old novels may like it. It deals with very modern themes of corruption in an organized Church, court cases, the press and the proper use of charity money. It is my first Trollope book and I find his writting style east to read.
mhrocm's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Apparently Trollope was overshadowed by Dickens, both writing in the mid to late 1800s, however he has his followers who claim his characters are less black and white, less larger than life and that his female characters have more agency than those of Dickens.
It’s an Interesting parallel with modern times as this short novel is essentially about a well meaning young surgeon embarking on a media campaign to out (cancel?) a kind and well meaning warden caring for broken down labourers, whose income is far more than the position warrants.
This triggers a crisis of conscience in the warden much to the chagrin of his superiors in the church who would prefer to stonewall and lawyer up.
Actually pretty good, I might read another Trollope…
It’s an Interesting parallel with modern times as this short novel is essentially about a well meaning young surgeon embarking on a media campaign to out (cancel?) a kind and well meaning warden caring for broken down labourers, whose income is far more than the position warrants.
This triggers a crisis of conscience in the warden much to the chagrin of his superiors in the church who would prefer to stonewall and lawyer up.
Actually pretty good, I might read another Trollope…
laila4343's review against another edition
3.0
The Warden, Mr. Harding, is a kind and virtuous soul. Is he entitled to his 800 pound a year job? Can he withstand the mudslinging press attacks upon his character? Why did his future son-in-law start this whole mess to begin with? This initially felt like a soothing escape from life in 2020, grew kind of boring in the middle, then rebounded towards the end. I like Trollope’s style, and I’m glad I tried him. (I read this for my Classics Club list.) But I don’t feel compelled to read further more of the Barsetshire Chronicles.
lectora21's review
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexism
ed_moore's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Anthony Trollope’s ‘The Warden’ is the first book in the Barsetshire Chronicles, following the church warden of Barchester, Septimus Harding, as he battles a legal case surrounding his entitlement to the money in the will of the owner of Hyram’s hospital, versus 12 beadsmen under the care of the hospital who believe it is entitled to they and the poor. It is a story of legal deceit and religious corruption, presenting the church as an entity that works to benefit solely itself and highlighting that the extent of empathy in religion and politics is largely unchanged, but placing such blame on the institution rather than the individuals benefiting from the clerical system.
‘The Warden’ was however quite uneventful, it wasn’t that long and I feel it could’ve taken a few more chapters to really explore religious corruption, though did give a sufficient satirisation into the hypocrisy of ‘public newspapers’ which I appreciated and even satirised Dickens and his formula of works. While this was an interesting element, that was the only memorable exploration for I feel the characters were largely flat and uninteresting in their motives, other than possibly the lawyer and suitor John Bold, and the plot really didn’t explore its core themes to the depth that I would expect. The whole book just had an heir of ‘nothingness’, despite such I think I will read ‘Barchester Towers’ one day as I picked up ‘The Warden’ due to a recommendation of its sequel, and if that is equally bland shan’t care for the rest of the chronicle.
connell98's review against another edition
3.0
Not the best piece of Victorian literature, in my opinion, but not the worst either
emmilary's review against another edition
3.0
I read this for a challenge as my Victorian novel choice as I had not yet read anything by Trollope. This novel had some funny social satire, and several cutting comments made me laugh aloud! The Warden himself was an incredibly noble character. That said, the plot revolving around church politics was something I would not typically gravitate toward and I was somewhat bored at times with the minutiae.