Reviews

The Small House at Allington by Anthony Trollope

rosekk's review against another edition

4.0

I'm still enjoying the Barsetshire world, five books in. They're quaint and show a lot of the hallmarks of the era they were written in, but they're warm and amusing so I can't find fault with them for that.

eric_d_peterson's review against another edition

3.0

This seems like a cheap shot, Trollope evidently read Sence and Sensibility

ph1lb's review against another edition

4.0

Another excellent story by Anthony Trollope although I have to admit the novel felt unfinished.
I was constantly surprised how seriously people treated the breaking of an engagement.
The Victorians could certainly teach us a thing or two about law and order. When after one man hits another, the police come immediately. Furthermore, the incident is mentioned in the newspaper the next day.

flamingo_and_owl_books's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

travelsalongmybookshelf's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This is the fifth of the Barsetshire Chronicles and is the longest so far of thegreatanthonytrollopereadlaong

We are introduced to Lily Dale and her love for the ambitious and self serving Crosbie. When she is jilted by him, she is crushed, yet tries to hide her grief. When her honest suitor Johnny Eames wishes for more with her, she is determined to keep to a life of spinsterhood, feeling that her heart will always belong to Crosbie.

There are multiple threads to this story, . The titular Small House is lived in by Bell, Lily and their mother rent free from Kit Dale who is the girls Uncle. He feels some ownership of the girls and wants to marry Bell to her cousin Bernard, heir to The Great and Small house. But Bell isn’t having any of it and they decide to leave The small House to the chagrin of Kit. There are a myriad of brilliant characters including the fabulous Lord de Guest and Lady Julia, an altercation with a bull, from which Johnny Eames rescues him. Crosbie wheedles his way into the De Courcy family, marrying Alexandrina, it doesn’t end well ( little fist pump here- he deserves it). The hilarious Sir Raffle Buffle, who is Johnny’s boss, the wonderful Hopkins, gardener at Allington, the Ropers and house guests in London- the list goes on. I just can’t do it justice.

The story dips and dives, people flit in and out, there is a cameo appearance by my beloved Mr Harding and we meet Plantagenet Palliser, who will feature later in the year in our Palliser series.

Trollope is a master of complex stories, of love and Victorian relationships. He draws a vivid picture and a contrast between country and city life, it can be scrambling and rambling at times but it’s wonderful to sink into the world of Barchester and Trollope and feel miles away from the real world!

northerly_heart_reads's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

bibliobethreads's review against another edition

funny hopeful lighthearted reflective slow-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

5.0

georgia_gabrielle's review against another edition

funny lighthearted slow-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

3.5

rosepoldark's review

emotional funny slow-paced

4.5

Oh how i love Johnny Eames! He was by far the highlight of this lovely book. All the characters were good of course, but there was something about Johnny that was quite special, having the hero of the story be a hobbledehoy 

and not get the girl in the end! Poor Johnny Eames

. Crosbie was not my favorite and his part of the story is probably why this is not a 5 star, even though his part of the story was very good too. But lovely book, lovely characters and the ending! 

paramrb's review against another edition

adventurous emotional lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0