Reviews

I think the main issue with this novel was that I didn't care. Not really understanding the structure of the Catholic Church, I couldn't bring myself to care about which character got which position in a hierarchy completely foreign to me.

There were flashes of interest every now and then, but not enough to hook me. Eleanor's romance was one of those "flashes"- at times, it intrigued me, but mostly, it bored me. I will say, however- Eleanor as a character had some fun moments!

Had the book been less long-winded, maybe I would've been entertained. Unfortunately, though, I'll be marking this as a two-stars.

travelsalongmybookshelf's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted reflective slow-paced

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

5.0

This review is in sections which I wrote as I read for Instagram posts. **it contains spoilers**

Well it’s all change at Barchester. The old bishop has died and a new one takes hus place. Dr Proudie is not liked, his wife, Mrs Proudie is not liked. His henchman, I mean, chaplain, Mr Slope is not liked. Barchester is in uproar, how dare they come along preaching their low church sermons and wanting them to change 🤣 honestly this is so good! Dr Grantly is fit to burst and even lovely gentle Mr Harding, who already went through so much in The Warden is upset - this means war!!

‘Mr Harding….could scarcely bring himself to believe the words which he had heard had proceeded from the pulpit of Barchester Cathedral. Was he again to be disturbed? Was his whole life to be shown up as a useless sham a second time?’

‘Raising his hat with one hand, passed the other somewhat violently over his jow grizzled locks; smoke issued forth from the uplifted beaver as it were a cloud of wrath.’

‘Mr slope…went about his work zealously….whispering religious twaddle into the ears of foolish women….prying into everything.’

I’m glad to be back in the gently comic cathedral close of Barchester

————————-

I am loving my journeys to Barsetshire. It is funny, the characters make me laugh and it’s a good read!

Dr Stanhope has been called back from Italy, where he lived ostensibly for his ‘health’ and brings his wife and children including the brilliant Madeline or La signora Madeleine Vesey Neroni. She has a disability alluded to, unable to use her legs and with gossip that her accident was brought about by her husband. She has already faced off against Mrs Proudie in magnificent fashion and I am looking forward to further battles.

‘But she’s lame, Mrs Proudie, and cannot move. Somebody must have waited upon her.’

‘Lame.’ Said Mrs Proudie; ‘ I’d lame her if she belonged to me.’

The detestable Slope and Mrs Proudie are in cahoots, effectively remove Mr Harding from the option of returning as Warden. This made me so sad as gentle Septimus really deserves the Wardenship and I am now minded to really see Slope as the villain of the piece with his Dickensian name!

The Grantly’s are on a war footing against the detestable Slope, who reminds me of Dickens Uriah Heep; slimy, obsequious, conniving and scheming. He’d better not be thinking of getting his paws on Eleanor, the thought of it utterly horrifies poor Mr Harding.

———————

Now we have the arrival of Mr Arabin from Oxford, and The Thorne’s in Ullathorpe. I have to admit their introductions are a bit dry. Arabin is to be put to use by Grantly in his battle against the bishop aka Mrs Proudie! The Thorne’s are two of his parishioners and are very ‘proper’.

The wardenship of the hospital is still up for grabs and there is much scheming by Mr Slope, who has turned in favour of our friend Mr Harding as he wants to marry his daughter, Eleanor Bold. Who at this point is blissfully unaware of this. Also vying for her attention is Bertie Stanhope, who I don’t think has much of a chance as he is a bit of a manbaby. However Mrs Proudie is fighting for the Quiverfuls and their brood of 14 children 😱 to have the post. Ooh it’s good!

‘Now Q, don’t be so soft,’ she continued. ‘Take my word for it, the bishop knows no more about it than Jemima does.’ Jemima was the two year old.’

And Mrs Quiverful also enters the fray and she is kick ass!

But not as much so as Mrs Proudie, she will fight anyone and SHE is always right in her eyes! What a character, truly awful but just brilliant! The chapter where she tussles with Slope is pure gold.

‘My Lord,’ said the lady ‘is Mr Slope to leave this room, or am I?’

And finally her drip of a henpecked husband tells her to go…..what a result!

And then misunderstandings abound at Plumstead in the Grantly house - why, oh why they have to be so Victorian 🤣🤣 speak your mind and communicate and then all this wouldn’t happen!! All this attention for Eleanor and she is not aware of it, so many suitors - Arabin enters the fray along with Slope and Stanhope.

Who knew there could be so many machinations amongst the clergy?

————-

Things come to a head at Ullathorne, with a party or fete as I had it in my head. Lovely Miss Thorne wants it to go so well, bless her!

Finally we have all the characters in one place. Eleanor figures out that Mr Slope wants to marry her to her disgust and tells her father so, he is pleased.

Signora Neroni causes a stir and Lady de Courcy and Mrs Proudie bond over their tittle tattling of her.

All three of Eleanor’s suitors are in one place, vying for her attention, Signora Neroni has the measure of them though and has them in her palm.

The Dickensianly named Lookalofts and Greenacre’s give some light relief. Harry Greenacre comes a cropper at Quintain, the lookalofts with their on display bosoms are ingratiating themselves in the house whilst Mrs Greenacre huffs and puffs outside

Declarations of love occur with toe curling effects

‘How sweet to walk to heaven with you by my side, with you for my guide, mutual guides. Say, Eleanor, dearest Eleanor, shall we walk that sweet path together?’

‘Eleanor had no intention of ever walking together with Mr Slope on any other path than that special on of Miss Thorne’s’

‘Ah! Eleanor….

‘My name, Mr Slope, is Mrs Bold’

Take that Mr Slope!! What melodrama!

Then poor Eleanor suffers another proposal and knocks back Bertie Stanhope who is pleased with himself and exits stage left back to Italy.

Then we have a few ends to tie up, Mr Harding becomes Dean of Barchester, not Slope…hurrah! And then he’s not 🤣 in true Harding fashion! But only after more hilarity and miscommunication and then he has a plan afoot.

Miss Thorne matchmakes, who knew? With some help from Madeline Neroni and Eleanor is engaged to Mr Arabin, and about time!!

Mr Harding and Dr Grantly’s schemes come to fruition and alls well that ends well.

————

What unutterable joy my reading of the Barchester Chronicles brings. Not only have I got an amazing group to read with in thegreatanthonytrollopereadalong2023 but the books are just fantastic!

They bring perfect joy. Quiet, slow reading really is the best!

takeflightinreading's review against another edition

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funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

4.25

mariagape's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful lighthearted tense slow-paced

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

4.0

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