A review by travelsalongmybookshelf
The Warden by Anthony Trollope

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? Yes

4.0

My initial thoughts were that I thought it might feel like the Archers. Probably because they are called The Barsetshire Chronicles and I think it sounds like the Archers 🤣

I come to these as you can see with no knowledge of the stories or people at all! 

The Warden finds us in the cathedral city of Barchester. I’m already conjuring images of Wells, the city I live in, with the Vicars Close and almshouses possibly not too dissimilar to those described.

The titular character is Rev Septimus Harding, a sweet kindly and generous soul. He has a very good living from being the warden of the almshouses bequeathed for the purposes of housing 12 bedesmen in need by John Hiram, many years previously. He feels entitled to his living but gives more than he is required to the inhabitants. His son -in -law is the Archdeacon, Dr Grantly and who I would call a pompous ass! He is quite opinionated to all he meets and even his wife turns his back on him in bed when she’s had enough.

There are murmurings of the fairness of the wardens £800 a year versus the pittance the inhabitants receive. Dr John Bold is one to take up the cause, an ardent reformer and also prospective son -in -law of Harding but what trouble will this cause for all concerned?

I liked Trollope’s style of writing, it feels natural and easy to read and the personalities of the characters are set very early on. It is a slow start but the scene is set beautifully.

As Bold goes into battle for the Bedesman, I felt real sympathy for the warden as it was not his decision how the money was awarded. It places pressure and awkwardness on the relationships of all concerned. The Warden and his potential son in law, the Warden and his bedesmen, it’s actually quite sad, greed has taken over. 

Then it hits the papers, the ‘Jupiter’ to be exact and all hell breaks loose. Poor Septimus Harding is vilified in the press as a robber and a gold digger, but what can he do? The Bedesman all think this is great, except Bunce who has a heavy heart, and they go around espousing the news story even though they cannot read! Bold feels emboldened in his task.

Trollope is a bit of a wit, we can hear his voice clearly, he clearly doesn’t love the Church of England as an organisation but he seems to love some of the individuals within. He also cannot stand the press, that is quite obvious and the similarities to today’s press are quite astounding - nothing has changed in 200 years, ripping people to shreds without evidence went on then as it does now. The introduction makes reference to notable cases at the time. At least poor Septimus didn’t have social media to contend with too! 

I loved the ending, I won’t spoil it, Septimus is simply wonderful.

Roll on Barchester Towers!