Kept in the Dark, chapters I–VI (Dec 1 – Dec 7)

[Tommi]

Kept in the Dark, 1882, originally in eight monthly installments, was Trollope’s last novel published during his lifetime as he died shortly afterwards. How did his writing differ in his last years compared to his most famous works, decades earlier? Is it worth a read or forgotten for a good reason?

Here we are to find out such things. And, as it happens, I forgot my copy to my workplace and I won’t be there until Friday, so... Gutenberg shall do meanwhile. I’ll give my first thoughts tomorrow.

If anyone else (besides Everyman and possibly Bharathi) feels like participating, please do, it’s a short read and here’s the Gutenberg page for your pleasure: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/22000

[Tommi]

I’m only four chapters through, but I’m enjoying it so far. Seems like a much simpler plot than what one can find in the novel series with their religious and political context. And it’s almost funny how much this and the other late novel I read (Dr Wortle’s School) deal thematically with sensation novels (secrets, adultery, bigamy and whatnot), novels that Trollope openly detested. He does often tell that “this it not a sensation novel so I’m going to reveal all mysteries in the very first chapters, and if this method doesn’t interest you, skip this book”. This is openly remarked in the other novel I mentioned, and also hinted at in Kept in the Dark if I remember right.

There is just something in Trollope’s language that makes the metaphors and images work well... “They endured to be considered but as the outside personages of an indifferent outer world, whereas Cecilia herself with her lover were the only two inhabitants of the small celestial empire in which they lived” – nothing extraordinary about that sentence, but it’s very effective.

[Bharathi]

I read the first 6 chapters of Kept in the dark. It is not one of my favorites. I realize it is the kast written work of his. From what I ha read so far I can guess at the plot and the probable direction the novella will go. For me, it reminds of 1960s sentimental Indian movies (not my favorite kind). I might finish it because I am a fan.

[Tommi]

Just pointing out that KitD wasn’t the very last novel he wrote, just the last one that was published while he lived. There’s more than a couple of posthumous novels, I think. Maybe ideal material for some future buddy reads, huh!

I have a rather positive feeling about this novel, especially of Francesca Altifiorla, she’s pretty funny.

The scholar who wrote the introduction to my edition has a favourable opinion of the novel as well, yet of course it’s somewhat biased. Anyways, he remarks that

[s]etting out to read a ‘forgotten’ novel by a great novelist, there is always the feeling that one is about to be disappointed: such books are often forgotten for good reason. This is not the case with Kept in the Dark. It is not vintage Trollope, certainly. But it is not bad wine, all the same.

We‘ll see how much that is true!