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A review by danelleeb
The American Senator by Anthony Trollope
3.0
Alright. So now, this book is the first Trollope novel I've read. I've heard lots about him, his books, etc. etc. etc. and everything seemed right up my alley. But this book was such a chore. Such a chore.
The American Senator is a book that is mainly 3 plots that are kind of interwoven. Each plot revolves around a rural place somewhat near London, called Dillsborough and the people who live there.
The first plot has to do with the title of the book - an American senator, Mr. Gotobed, is visiting England to make observations re: English society and government and just English life in general. He plans to use what he learns to give a series of lectures in England and then to take back information to perhaps help with governing in Washington D.C. This was the most boring of the plots in this book. Every time I had to revisit 'the Senator' I groaned inwardly and trudged on.
The second plot deals with a love triangle of sorts - the daughter of a struggling lawyer, a younger brother of a squire, and a man who is a well-respected farmer. Mary, the daughter of the lawyer, is proposed to by the farmer but she loves another. And though everyone tries to coerce her into the marriage, she stays true to herself and her feelings. (Really - the treatment she receives from her stepmother was really abominable! She called Mary a slut! My word!)
The third plot deals with Arabella Trefoil, a social climber and husband hunter who tries to trick men of wealth and title into marriage. Her story begins with her being engaged to one man (the older brother of the younger brother mentioned above) while trying to secure a proposal from another man, a Lord with 40,000/yr. She and her mother live by their ploys and tactics and everything eventually falls in on them.
Overall, I felt this was mediocre. Perhaps there is better Trollope out there and I just haven't encountered it yet. This was just underwhelming and at times an absolute snooze.
The American Senator is a book that is mainly 3 plots that are kind of interwoven. Each plot revolves around a rural place somewhat near London, called Dillsborough and the people who live there.
The first plot has to do with the title of the book - an American senator, Mr. Gotobed, is visiting England to make observations re: English society and government and just English life in general. He plans to use what he learns to give a series of lectures in England and then to take back information to perhaps help with governing in Washington D.C. This was the most boring of the plots in this book. Every time I had to revisit 'the Senator' I groaned inwardly and trudged on.
The second plot deals with a love triangle of sorts - the daughter of a struggling lawyer, a younger brother of a squire, and a man who is a well-respected farmer. Mary, the daughter of the lawyer, is proposed to by the farmer but she loves another. And though everyone tries to coerce her into the marriage, she stays true to herself and her feelings. (Really - the treatment she receives from her stepmother was really abominable! She called Mary a slut! My word!)
The third plot deals with Arabella Trefoil, a social climber and husband hunter who tries to trick men of wealth and title into marriage. Her story begins with her being engaged to one man (the older brother of the younger brother mentioned above) while trying to secure a proposal from another man, a Lord with 40,000/yr. She and her mother live by their ploys and tactics and everything eventually falls in on them.
Overall, I felt this was mediocre. Perhaps there is better Trollope out there and I just haven't encountered it yet. This was just underwhelming and at times an absolute snooze.