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Doctor Thorne (Chronicles of Barsetshire, #3)

Anthony Trollope,

Ruth Rendell (Editor)

Discussion: Chronicles of Barsetshire

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Chronicles of Barsetshire

* The Series
By Elizabeth (Al… · 16 posts · 173 views

last updated Jan 12, 2014 04:31PM

Last Chronicle of Barset (possible minor spoiler)
By Paul · 3 posts · 10 views

last updated Nov 12, 2021 11:41AM

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What Members Thought

Sep 09, 2020 Tom Britz rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This was a gorgeous read. You do not read Anthony Trollope for the surprise twists (there are little to none) nor for the spine-tingling suspense (again zippo) but you do read Trollope for the characters that seem as real as your neighbors and the true to life actions within. Trollope's comic asides (his narrator is in fact as much a character at times as those he is writing about) are at times laugh out loud funny, while at the same time his pathos can be heart warming and wrenching as any othe This was a gorgeous read. You do not read Anthony Trollope for the surprise twists (there are little to none) nor for the spine-tingling suspense (again zippo) but you do read Trollope for the characters that seem as real as your neighbors and the true to life actions within. Trollope's comic asides (his narrator is in fact as much a character at times as those he is writing about) are at times laugh out loud funny, while at the same time his pathos can be heart warming and wrenching as any other author you'd care to name.
This story is about family bloodlines (it is Victorian England) and a family's legacy that has been mortgaged by outstanding debts accrued by unfortunate investments and a political upheaval. Frank Gresham has just turned 21 and has "come of age". His overbearing mother (many times I wanted to drop kick her) knows that he must marry into money, in order to save the family legacy. However enter Dr. Thorne and his lovely niece. Dr. Thorne had a low-life brother that seduced a young woman of low birth, she had no bloodline or name behind her, but she was beautiful. Her brother Roger Scratcherd was a hard working and talented architect, stone worker. When Roger (who has a drinking problem) found out about the scandalous affair involving his beloved sister, Roger goes into a rage and kills Dr. Thorne's brother. Due to the circumstances, which the whole town knows about, Roger gets a light manslaughter charge and goes to prison for a few years.
Meanwhile the sister has a child, a girl, and Dr. Thorne and the girl's boyfriend come up with a plan. The fiance will marry her and move to America as long as she leaves the child behind, he wants Mary (the girl) but he wants a family that is his, and Dr. Thorne arranges for the child to be brought up by another family until she turns 13 at which time she will move in with Dr. Thorne as his niece.
Dr. Thorne is a good friend of the Gresham's so that Mary (the child) is brought up alongside the Gresham's family. This is the dilemna of the novel. Frank turns 21 and is in love with Mary. His family knows nothing about Mary's sordid past (being a bastard child with no bloodline or family) except for Dr. Thorne and the senior Gresham. Frank's family due to their precarious financial stance knows the only way out of their dilemna and save the family's estate is that Frank "must marry money".
Roger Scratcherd after getting out of prison due to his skills working with stone and the building trades goes on to become a millionaire and has his own family. In fact he is awarded a baronetcy.
This is the bare bones that Anthony Trollope polishes and uses to turn out a marvelous piece of art in this novel. There are no surprises, no other murders, just raw emotions and the never ending phrase that Frank "must marry money".
The reader knows basically early on how the story will turn out, but is still swept away and thoroughly enjoys the twists and turns. This truly is a masterpiece of realistic (yet comic) novelistic art. ...more

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Feb 21, 2022 Christopher Day rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: nl-eng-vic

It's a rare writer who can keep the reader engaged for almost 600 pages when the plot is clear from early on, but Trollope manages it here. The slow start with lots of background information pays off in the richness of the full story, so don't let that put you off. As ever with Trollope, the characters are complex and I found myself empathising with and being annoyed by aspects of all of the personalities involved - Miss Dunstable ended up being a favourite. ...more

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Apr 17, 2023 Laura (Reading is a Doing Word) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2023-read, classics-trad-and-modern, trollope

Another Trollope and another installation of the Barsetshire Chronicles that I loved!
It felt like there was a lot, but yet very little going on in the book all at once.
The Gresham family finances are in a state and young Frank Gresham MUST MARRY MONEY! However, he loves Dr Thorne's niece, Mary, who is illegitimate and poor......or is she?!
This sums up the plot. However, in following the trials of Frank and Mary's love, Trollope deals with many other societal questions of the day.
WEALTH/WORTH
Weal ...more

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