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frances_ab's review against another edition
3.0
This was a short and moderately interesting work of Trollope's, which provided a study in conscience and in pride and in issues of inheritance and property. As there were no truly sympathetic characters, I found myself rather wishing no one would win in the end, but enjoyed this quick read nonetheless.
maryw's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
pgchuis's review
4.0
Henry is summoned by his uncle Indefer, who is determined to leave his estate to Henry since he is a man, rather than to Henry's cousin Isabel, who has been brought up to believe she would be the heiress. Isabel goes to visit her father and while she is away the squire changes his mind again and makes a new will in her favour. He then dies, but no one can find the most recent will, even though two workers on the estate are ready to swear they witnessed it. We know, but no one else does, that Henry found the will lying in a book of sermons, closed up the book and put it back on the bookroom shelf. He spends the rest of the novel agonizing over whether to come clean and becomes increasingly unpopular with all around.
This is pretty short as Trollope novels go and fairly satisfying, although Isabel is hard to warm to and I found her treatment of her lover Owen to be a bit cold. Also, why is she willing to marry him at the end once she is restored to her inheritance? I appreciate that he has been faithful and willing to marry her without a penny, but in that case, why was he so objectionable at the very beginning, but not now? I also struggled a bit with why everyone hated poor Henry as soon as he turned up in Wales. Isabel detests him when he seems to have done nothing wrong at all - I appreciate she doesn't want to marry him, but why is he so hated by her and by his uncle on sight?
This is pretty short as Trollope novels go and fairly satisfying, although Isabel is hard to warm to and I found her treatment of her lover Owen to be a bit cold. Also, why is she willing to marry him at the end once she is restored to her inheritance? I appreciate that he has been faithful and willing to marry her without a penny, but in that case, why was he so objectionable at the very beginning, but not now? I also struggled a bit with why everyone hated poor Henry as soon as he turned up in Wales. Isabel detests him when he seems to have done nothing wrong at all - I appreciate she doesn't want to marry him, but why is he so hated by her and by his uncle on sight?
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