Reviews

Barchester towers by Anthony Trollope

hadeanstars's review against another edition

4.0

An absolute delight, such a gentle and humorous story, with wonderful, believable, engaging characters, just a pleasure to read.

And so funny! I found myself chuckling so much of the time at the perfect observations, and the idiosyncratic behaviour of the rich cast of characters. As a sequel (to The Warden) it really builds on that altogether simpler story and takes it to a new level.

I am really looking forward to the next instalment.

schmidtellie's review against another edition

5.0

The first book was mediocre. I’m glad I stuck with it thought because this was sort of like a male Jane Austen and it was quite amusing :)

rosekk's review against another edition

4.0

I appreciate the sympathy with which Mr/ Trollope treats all his characters. Combined with the way he addresses readers about the narrative and characters within, I found the book very enjoyable. The only fault is that the gender politics of the age shine through, which I found a little trying in places.

nigellicus's review against another edition

lighthearted relaxing

5.0

A bishop dies, a new bishop is appointed, along with his wife and his curate and things in Barchester go absolutely hog wild, or as hog wild as it gets for Barchester. The new bishop's unpopular, the wife is domineering, the curate is scheming. This leaves our beloved gang from The Warden in doubt and confusion, the issue of the hospital warden returns, as does a family from Italy with ideas of their own, and lots of people become interested in or unjustly angry at the good widow Bold. It's like Hobbiton, if Hobbiton was real, and Anglican. 

nettelou's review against another edition

medium-paced

4.0

samhsiung's review against another edition

4.0

I hated the men in this book. I would highly recommend this book if you want an excuse to hate on men. At some point, one of the characters (Mr Arabin) proposes to a girl (Eleanor Bold) merely by calling her “his wife.” Not even a “can you be my wife” or a “will you marry me.” Just a “you are my wife now.” I really wonder if that’s how men proposed to women in the 1800s. It’s important to note that this novel is an anachronistic text, so the narrator (which I feel like is probably just Trollope channeling his inner thoughts on his own characters/writing, though you can never be too sure) does sound very misogynistic in many parts—but was probably actually revolutionarily feminist for the time period. It’s like that whole argument with Twain being satirical and quite anti-racist for his time period even though contemporary standards would deem him a racist. This novel was incredibly character-driven, rather than plot-driven, which I loved so much. Every character had so much depth, even the ones that were pretty irrelevant—and honestly, the most interesting traits about some of these characters were how boring they were, but even that is a sort of depth. I would love to be able to write a boring character that well. I really think this novel would’ve been a much more worthwhile read if it were less dense, but apparently Trollope was paid for every word he wrote, and I guess I would've done the same thing if I was in his position. Also, I did not know there could be so much church drama and so many parts that make up a church (high church, low church, archbishop, warden, diocese). I still don't know what the difference between a bishop and archbishop is and kind of still don't understand what the difference between a diocese and parish is, but my new realization is that maybe I am into novels about petty church drama. Props to my prof for choosing this book to teach.

pdonovan's review against another edition

emotional 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

4.0

sherwoodreads's review against another edition

Trollope at his very best--vivid characters, a truly great villainess, a real page turner.

One of those books that inspired decades of fan fiction, including Angela Thirkell's modern day Barsetshire novels. (I find them boring, but hey, she published fan fic, which is rare.)

ebkara's review against another edition

4.0

Listened to this on Audible read exquisitely by Timothy West. Occasionally Mr Trollope gets a bit too carried away with pompous descriptions but really this hardly spoils wonderful story telling richly developed characters. The revolting Mr Slope the naive Mrs Bold being pursued by two good for nothings after her fortune and the genuinely good and king Mr Harding and Mr Arabin. Perfect holiday accompaniment for a canal boat drifting along the Kennet and Avon canal in spring sunshine!

sctittle's review against another edition

5.0

Oh, Audible, you wonderful invention. I started listening to Trollope's lengthy (28-hour) book about a week after the election, when I was going crazy for something to listen to while I knitted. All the podcasts I subscribe to were ensconsed in Trump news and I couldn't bear them. Enter Tim West, the narrator with the soothing, syrupy voice. He swept me off to 19th-century (or "18-blank") Barchester, England, and into the lives of wonderfully drawn, complex characters. No one is starving, no one is murdered, abused, or even beat up--except for one brilliantly executed slap in the face. Trollope is such a wise and loving author--even while he pokes fun at the most ridiculous characters (including a mysteriously lame "signora" who needs to be carted around on a sofa). The humor runs the gamut from sly to outright slapstick. And the bow, while neatly tied at the end, is satisfyingly somewhat bedraggled. If you love Dickens or Austen--or even if you don't but love novels that touch on the political and social mores of their day--I can't recommend Barchester Towers highly enough.