Harding and one special suitor) who escape the blanket sarcasm, but most of Trollope’s characters fall prey to their own ridiculous Here, the well-meaning, albeit preposterous clerics become something else and their religious fervor, be it high or low church, is a mere statement of social and party pressure instead of true belief. Here, the drama is all very Victorian era, focused on the ridiculous nature of privilege and position, both of which are scathed by Trollope’s rather clever tongue. Unwittingly tossed about between three suitors, two of whom do not have good intentions, Eleanor becomes a pawn in the ongoing war and is forced to defend her honor against her proud brother-in-law.īarchester Towersis a large book and, like The Warden, mostly a sleeper of a story, more concerned with looking at characters and also characteristics of society than exciting with a twisty plot. Harding’s recently widowed (and now wealthy) daughter, Eleanor, is engaging in her own warfare. Harding is brought into the political intrigue and backbiting. With a second chance at his home, the lovable Mr. The war comes right back to where we started in book one – the wardenship of Hiram’s Hospital. Proudie for the right to rule the bishop, his low church sermons and snide comments about the current ecclesiastical state of Barsetshire lead to even greater hatred between the incumbents (including Archdeacon Grantly) and his few supporters.

Proudie, who is disgustingly low church and comes with his sidekick and supporter, the Reverend Slope. This results in a brand-new bishop, the lamentable (and viciously hen-pecked) Dr. The long-lived Bishop of Barchester has recently vacated his post and this life, resulting in a scramble for primacy among the backstabbing candidates. In Trollope’s second installment in The Chronicles of Barsetshire, the little town of Barsetshire is alive with drawing room intrigue, this time set along the lines of respectable holy war. Rating: Drawing Room Drama and Religious Reactions

The warden barchester towers