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elisabetta_abraami's review against another edition
This was quite interesting, and it's difficult to believe it was written so long ago--it feels so contemporary.
too_fond_of_books's review against another edition
4.0
“What on earth could be more luxurious than a sofa, a book, and a cup of coffee?...Was ever anything so civil?”
― Anthony Trollope, The Warden
The first in Trollope's Chronicles of Barchester, The Warden is a short little novel that probably won't interest you if you aren't a fan of reading classics. In fact I think if I hadn't listened to the audiobook narrated by the amazing Timothy West then I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it nearly as much. His narration and voice characterization simply made the story for me.
― Anthony Trollope, The Warden
The first in Trollope's Chronicles of Barchester, The Warden is a short little novel that probably won't interest you if you aren't a fan of reading classics. In fact I think if I hadn't listened to the audiobook narrated by the amazing Timothy West then I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it nearly as much. His narration and voice characterization simply made the story for me.
benwillie's review against another edition
4.0
I would eagerly and with joy read the assembly manual to a drain auger if Anthony Trollope wrote it.
This is most whimsically delightful book I had ever read, until I got to [b:Barchester Towers|125321|Barchester Towers (Chronicles of Barsetshire #2)|Anthony Trollope|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1387980968l/125321._SY75_.jpg|3299857]. Trollope's quiet wit and authorial interjections were an unfamiliar pleasure, and the simple plot was carried off with somehow deeply engrossing intricacies. The entrancing writing is mostly due to the his incredible work in capturing characters, both relatable and despicable. I was shocked to learn that this was Trollope's first ever published novel, and it makes we want to read his 47th for comparison. He keeps good company with Dickens and Austen in being so pragmatic as to hitting a daily writing quota for money, while still managing to tell a witty and intriguing story that makes you want to read to the end even when he spoils the entire plot. The conversational manner of the whole book makes it like listening to a close friend tell a fascinating story, and the incredible narration by Timothy West couldn't set the words of better. Can't recommend this highly enough.
(The only reason I'm not giving this 5 stars is because it's not truly life-changing. My four stars are a little too broad I suppose...)
This is most whimsically delightful book I had ever read, until I got to [b:Barchester Towers|125321|Barchester Towers (Chronicles of Barsetshire #2)|Anthony Trollope|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1387980968l/125321._SY75_.jpg|3299857]. Trollope's quiet wit and authorial interjections were an unfamiliar pleasure, and the simple plot was carried off with somehow deeply engrossing intricacies. The entrancing writing is mostly due to the his incredible work in capturing characters, both relatable and despicable. I was shocked to learn that this was Trollope's first ever published novel, and it makes we want to read his 47th for comparison. He keeps good company with Dickens and Austen in being so pragmatic as to hitting a daily writing quota for money, while still managing to tell a witty and intriguing story that makes you want to read to the end even when he spoils the entire plot. The conversational manner of the whole book makes it like listening to a close friend tell a fascinating story, and the incredible narration by Timothy West couldn't set the words of better. Can't recommend this highly enough.
(The only reason I'm not giving this 5 stars is because it's not truly life-changing. My four stars are a little too broad I suppose...)
melslostinabook's review against another edition
5.0
The Warden, being the first book in The Chronicles of Barsetshire, was my first Anthony Trollope book and I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed it!
This story centers around the Church of England and characters in the small-town villages of England, namely Barsetshire. The Warden, Septimus Harding, a pious widower and a clergyman in the local parish church, comes under scrutiny and downright attack when his friend, an activist and reformer, begins looking into the misapplication of church funds and strives to expose these misappropriations.
Mr. Harding is also the warden of an almshouse in his parish that houses 12 old, ailing men, and his job is to oversee their needs, primarily that they receive adequate food, clothing, and healthcare. The inner turmoil and struggles that Mr. Harding faces, as he seeks to determine if his income for the job he performs is more than what was stipulated in the almshouse founder’s will, is the ensuing result of John Bold’s proclamation.
I loved Mr. Harding, with his humility and morality, and his daughter, Eleanor, who encouraged her father to follow his conscience. This book has a great cast of characters, really. I loved that Trollope based his story on reality, too, how he wrote about the Church of England, how it was the beneficiary of financial gifts from deceased church members and how over time, the church ended up distributing the majority of these funds in salaries to clergyman, setting them up to live like aristocrats, while the charities these funds were originally intended for ended up getting very little of the money and assistance. All in all, a very agreeable read for me and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!
This story centers around the Church of England and characters in the small-town villages of England, namely Barsetshire. The Warden, Septimus Harding, a pious widower and a clergyman in the local parish church, comes under scrutiny and downright attack when his friend, an activist and reformer, begins looking into the misapplication of church funds and strives to expose these misappropriations.
Mr. Harding is also the warden of an almshouse in his parish that houses 12 old, ailing men, and his job is to oversee their needs, primarily that they receive adequate food, clothing, and healthcare. The inner turmoil and struggles that Mr. Harding faces, as he seeks to determine if his income for the job he performs is more than what was stipulated in the almshouse founder’s will, is the ensuing result of John Bold’s proclamation.
I loved Mr. Harding, with his humility and morality, and his daughter, Eleanor, who encouraged her father to follow his conscience. This book has a great cast of characters, really. I loved that Trollope based his story on reality, too, how he wrote about the Church of England, how it was the beneficiary of financial gifts from deceased church members and how over time, the church ended up distributing the majority of these funds in salaries to clergyman, setting them up to live like aristocrats, while the charities these funds were originally intended for ended up getting very little of the money and assistance. All in all, a very agreeable read for me and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!
darcyjanea's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
cerysharrison's review against another edition
4.0
Reading Trollope is like sitting in on a conversation with an insightful, witty gossip. The characters are realistic and their motivations understandable, even if we don't agree with them. This book is a great introduction to Trollope.
translator_monkey's review against another edition
4.0
Lovely to start reading the Chronicles of Barsetshire; something I'd promised myself I'd do after picking up a copy of 'Barchester Towers' when I lived in North Yorkshire about a million years ago.
This book is excellent; a similar tone to what I've read in the works of Hardy and Eliot, misunderstood protagonists faced with seemingly insurmountable circumstances, striving to do what they know to be right, and sometimes surviving, sometimes not, but always with understanding creeping into the hearts of those who, through their own choices, would do them wrong.
A captivating first book in the series; so many books on the shelf, but all of the rest of the Chronicles right there with them. I look forward to reading them all.
This book is excellent; a similar tone to what I've read in the works of Hardy and Eliot, misunderstood protagonists faced with seemingly insurmountable circumstances, striving to do what they know to be right, and sometimes surviving, sometimes not, but always with understanding creeping into the hearts of those who, through their own choices, would do them wrong.
A captivating first book in the series; so many books on the shelf, but all of the rest of the Chronicles right there with them. I look forward to reading them all.
e_woodhouse's review against another edition
2.0
Il fatto che ci abbia messo una cosa come dieci giorni a leggere un libro di circa duecento pagine credo dica tutto sul mio apprezzamento.
La trama, il conflitto al centro del romanzo, in realtà è parecchio interessante; è un dilemma di coscienza che nasce intorno a una questione poco chiara che riguarda un vecchio testamento, e il protagonista si trova a decidere tra fare la cosa che ritiene giusta, indipendentemente da ciò che gli suggeriscono gli avvocati, e quello che sembrerebbe essere il dovere nei confronti della Chiesa di cui fa parte, mentre i giornali scelgono di mostrarlo come un avaro nullafacente senza sapere niente di tutta la vicenda.
Il problema è che è scritto in modo noiosissimo, io non sono una lettrice molto costante ma qui mi veniva da mollare dopo aver letto un paio di righe, è troppo asciutto riuscendo al contempo ad essere, a momenti, troppo enfatico; e, nonostante la questione di cui sopra sia in sé un'idea ottima per il romanzo, mi sono fatta l'idea che Trollope non avesse particolare interesse a sviluppare i propri personaggi, che mi sono sembrati descritti da lontano, come se non avesse voluto, per così dire, sporcarsi le mani e renderli più vividi, più umani, più passionali. Stendiamo un velo pietoso sui comprimari (come Mr Bold, il quale prima giura di fare qualsiasi cosa per la donna che ama, anche venire meno a fare quello che ritiene il bene della comunità, e cinque minuti dopo si domanda chi gliel'ha fatto fare di rinunciare "for a girl").
La trama, il conflitto al centro del romanzo, in realtà è parecchio interessante; è un dilemma di coscienza che nasce intorno a una questione poco chiara che riguarda un vecchio testamento, e il protagonista si trova a decidere tra fare la cosa che ritiene giusta, indipendentemente da ciò che gli suggeriscono gli avvocati, e quello che sembrerebbe essere il dovere nei confronti della Chiesa di cui fa parte, mentre i giornali scelgono di mostrarlo come un avaro nullafacente senza sapere niente di tutta la vicenda.
Il problema è che è scritto in modo noiosissimo, io non sono una lettrice molto costante ma qui mi veniva da mollare dopo aver letto un paio di righe, è troppo asciutto riuscendo al contempo ad essere, a momenti, troppo enfatico; e, nonostante la questione di cui sopra sia in sé un'idea ottima per il romanzo, mi sono fatta l'idea che Trollope non avesse particolare interesse a sviluppare i propri personaggi, che mi sono sembrati descritti da lontano, come se non avesse voluto, per così dire, sporcarsi le mani e renderli più vividi, più umani, più passionali. Stendiamo un velo pietoso sui comprimari (come Mr Bold, il quale prima giura di fare qualsiasi cosa per la donna che ama, anche venire meno a fare quello che ritiene il bene della comunità, e cinque minuti dopo si domanda chi gliel'ha fatto fare di rinunciare "for a girl").
mildemakrel's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0