Barchester Towers (Chronicles of Barsetshire, #2) in Never too Late to Read Classics

Oct 16, 2018 Sara rated it really liked it

Shelves: kindle-purchase, 19th-century-literature

Having read The Warden last year and thoroughly enjoyed it, I had determined to read the next book in the Chronicles of Barsetshire this year. I did not know what to expect, but was delighted to find Mr. Harding and his daughter, Eleanor, waiting for the next phase of their story, along with some new characters and story lines.

The book is worth reading if for nothing more than the names of it’s characters, which leave no doubt in the mind as to occupation or moral qualities. Dr. Fillgrave must Having read The Warden last year and thoroughly enjoyed it, I had determined to read the next book in the Chronicles of Barsetshire this year. I did not know what to expect, but was delighted to find Mr. Harding and his daughter, Eleanor, waiting for the next phase of their story, along with some new characters and story lines.

The book is worth reading if for nothing more than the names of it’s characters, which leave no doubt in the mind as to occupation or moral qualities. Dr. Fillgrave must surely make the most somber smile, and who would have difficulty determining the greatest failing of Mrs. Proudie? In fact, his humor is scattered throughout the novel in equal portions with his wisdom.

Oh, husbands, oh, my marital friends, what great comfort is there to be derived from a wife well obeyed.

Can’t find any fault with the humor or the wisdom there, can you? But, beyond the playfulness, there are some serious issues at work, including the struggle for power that takes place between the two factions in the church. Trollope understood the political nature of the Church in his time, and the shenanigans were as bad as some we see in the political arena of our own. I certainly felt that neither side was as interested in serving the higher good or the people of the parish so much as their own interests and advancements.

There are representatives of the high church in the Grantly faction, Tory by political leaning, and the newly established Proudie faction, Whigs, unfortunately, represented by not only the spineless Bishop Proudie and his oppressive wife, but also by our most obvious villain, Obadiah Slope (his name makes you cringe, does it not?). Trollope is a master of description and I had no difficulty in reading Mr. Slope’s character in his demeanor.

His hair is lank and of a dull pale reddish hue. It is always formed into three straight, lumpy masses, each brushed with admirable precision and cemented with much grease; two of them adhere closely to the sides of his face, and the other lies at right angles above them. His face is nearly of the same color as his hair, though perhaps a little redder; it is not unlike beef--beef, however, one would say, of a bad quality. His forehead is capacious and high, but square and heavy and unpleasantly shiny.

He goes on to describe his mouth and his nose (which is “spongy and porous”). I dare say, we walk away with a complete picture of Slope and we cannot mistake him, even on this first meeting, for a man we would ever wish to invite to preach us a sermon or take tea with us. That Eleanor attempts to give Slope the benefit of the doubt is a testament to the fairness of her character.

To my delight, Trollope has also created Mr. Harding, a truly good man who attempts to always take the high road, and while perhaps a little naive, garners all our admiration and hope. On the female side, we have the independent thinking Eleanor Bold and the lascivious Signora Neroni.

I can promise that Trollope has taken what might have been a very dry subject in the politics of the church, and woven a complete and never boring tale of the people affected by it. This is only my second Trollope, but I found it both interesting and easy to read. It has a bit more character development and length than The Warden and would stand alone as a story, but I find that having read The Warden added a depth to the novel that I believe would have been missing otherwise. I am planning to continue the series next year with Dr. Thorne, and I am happy to have come to Trollope. Late to the table, but the feast is still fine.
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Jun 26, 2014 Christine PNW rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2025, 2025-read-my-hoard, 2025-dws

Wonderful!

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Feb 13, 2023 Laura (Reading is a Doing Word) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

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

I really loved this book! I'm also very glad to have read The Warden first, as this novel revisits most of the characters from the preceding installment and it felt like revisiting old friends.
A new Bishop comes to Barchester and his entourage and their ideas cause a ruckus amongst the established clergy.
There are some wonderful new characters in this novel - Mr Slope and Mrs Proudie foremost among them as well as Mr Arabin and the Stanhopes. Oh how I loved to hate Mr Slope! What a great villain I really loved this book! I'm also very glad to have read The Warden first, as this novel revisits most of the characters from the preceding installment and it felt like revisiting old friends.
A new Bishop comes to Barchester and his entourage and their ideas cause a ruckus amongst the established clergy.
There are some wonderful new characters in this novel - Mr Slope and Mrs Proudie foremost among them as well as Mr Arabin and the Stanhopes. Oh how I loved to hate Mr Slope! What a great villain and the embodiment of clerical hypocrisy!
The intrigues centre around different beliefs in the church of England and the contentions between "high" and "low" church practices. Whilst the background of church politics provides the motivation for much of the conflict in the book, it is really the personalities involved that perpetuate it. A desire for power drives Mrs Proudie, the Archdeacon and Mr Slope, so that they necessarily clash. There is also a commentary on the status quo and resistance to change - when clergymen are comfortable in their situation why rock the boat or look to reform, when they themselves may end up worse off?!

The idea of reputation and rumour is also explored. Poor Eleanor Bold becomes the centre of much speculation, through no fault of her own and this highlights that, despite her previously flawless conduct, even those closest to her are quick to believe the worst. How difficult for a guileless woman to protect herself from suspicion - her innocence is her weakness as she cannot fathom what people suspect her of!

I also loved the moral ambiguity of Signora Negroni and Berti Stanhope. Far from being morally religious, they care little for convention but ultimately neither is all bad.

Among all the bustle, Mr Harding remains the truest and most sincere character. The only one who allows himself to be led by his beliefs and his conscience, rather than by the desire for material gain or power, he represents an optimistic view of the clergy when compared to most of the other characters.

I loved revisiting these characters and observing the machinations surrounding the church and politics of Barchester. I look forward to the next installment.
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Oct 15, 2023 Annette rated it it was amazing

Shelves: classics-read, audiobook, library, 2023

I saw another reviewer describe Mr Slope as odious -- Spot on! But there are many "sweetmeats and sugar-plums" for the rest of the characters. I look forward to continuing this series.

I want to add that I love the frequent breaking of the fourth wall. ...more

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