Reviews

Framley Parsonage by Anthony Trollope

siguirimama's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

ipb1's review against another edition

5.0

You think you're reading a Jane Austen romance, but then the barbs turn all barbed wire. As ever the political and religious shenanigens are depressingly contemporary. Brilliant, as always.

coops456's review against another edition

3.0

It's been a while since I've read Trollope, and I found it the perfect way to escape our troubled times.

I often think that had they been written by a woman, the Barsetshire Chronicles would have been overlooked; perhaps resurrected by Persephone Books with appropriately beautiful end papers. It's domesticity, and class, and gender all exposed.

A lot of characters to keep track of in this one, but I enjoy Lady Lufton's iron fist in a velvet glove style!

hestklegg's review against another edition

funny inspiring reflective relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

avl_book_girl's review against another edition

emotional funny slow-paced

4.0

readingisadoingword's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 This is the 4th instalment in the Barsetshire series and another lovely, gentle read.

We revisit many characters from previous books but also meet new faces who are all connected with Framley Parsonage. The plot centres around Mark Robarts, his family and his acquaintances. Mark’s “ideas above his station” cause him to ingratiate himself into a social group outwith his financial wherewithal and he becomes embroiled in debt that is not his own. 

Peripheral to Mark’s problems there are the usual societal machinations of politics, class and church. Who is going to marry whom, what will be the fate of certain politicians, will the Proudies or the Grantlys reign supreme?

It struck me on reading, that the driving force of many of the significant events in this novel was misplaced pride and the inflexibility of the British class system at the time. (Quotes in images)

“Is it not a recognised rule of these realms that none of the blood royal shall raise to royal honours those of the subjects who are by birth un-royal!”

Mark desires status grander than that which he gets from his role as clergyman, leading him to act against his better judgement, put his family in financial peril and risk ruining his own reputation.

Lady Lufton regards her son as her pride and joy and wants a good marriage for him - only if that wife meets her exacting standards! However Lady Lufton is perhaps the most sympathetic character and ultimately her love for friends and family triumphs and she considers everyone's happiness to be the most important thing.

Lucy Robarts almost loses her chance at happiness through her stubborn pride, and makes a liar of herself in the process.

Reverend Crawley increases his family’s suffering and won’t accept well intentioned help due to his misplaced pride and Dr Thorne almost misses his chance at happiness, so keen is he to maintain his pride in being financially disinterested.

However as they are all, ultimately good people, each in their own way overcomes the obstacles of their pride and find their respective happy ending.

Of all the characters in this novel Lady Lufton shone out as my favourite. She could be a harsh, proud old woman but she loved her friends truly and wasn’t above apologising or recognising good character qualities in others. She has the flexibility to adapt to what most suits the happiness of those dearest to her, and therefore herself. I hope we see more of her and I’d be honoured to have a friend like Lady Lufton. 

I love Trollope’s style of writing! He is quietly and knowingly cynical and passes judgement on the folly of his characters in such a gentle way. He speaks to the reader and takes you along with him, giving you the odd knowing wink along the way - you and he are in this reading journey together! I look forward to more Barsetshire adventures.

 

heather_freshparchment's review against another edition

hopeful reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Antisemitism and Pandemic/Epidemic

rosekk's review against another edition

4.0

I don't think many books would be able to put off the weird arrangement of the plots that this book does. For one thing, I do mean plots, plural - and not just a main plot and a few sub-plots, but two (almost entirely unrelated) main plots, plus some extra sub plots including references to previous books. It works in this book, because it adds to the sense that we're learning about a set of people all living in a county, with separate lives that connect in different ways.

eric_d_peterson's review against another edition

4.0

This is a fun read but the weakest of the Barchester novels so far, but 2 more to go.

booksafterten's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5