A review by sophiefrancoiselucie
He Knew He Was Right by Anthony Trollope
4.0
The first question that popped into my mind after finishing this book was, ‘Was it worth the commitment?’ And I’m afraid the answer is, ‘Probably not.’ - except if you’re a Victorian era nerd, which I definitely am.
Emily Trevelyan enjoys a friendship with her dad’s old friend, Colonel Osborne but the latter has a reputation. Rumour has it he likes married women, like really. So Mr Trevelyan asks his wife not to see him anymore because this friendship is quite scandalous. She refuses to please her husband. And that drives him mad, literally. So this story deals with married women’s lots - and single women’s as well - and the effect of jealousy and power on the human mind in what I thought to be a very realistic depiction of the human behaviour.
This novel is a bit more than 800 pages long (in my edition) and there are tons of repetitions which leave you wondering whether YOU are losing your mind, too. It’s the kind of book which is really interesting to read about, and I just can’t wait to start reading essays and reviews on this little number. However, I’m really happy I read it till the end because the cast of characters is just wonderful. I loved them all - or loved to hate them - and that’s very rare. I think Trollope had a very acute way of seeing the world and understanding the human mind. I almost felt as if I was sent back to a salon in 1860-something and that I was told about the shocking story of the Trevelyan household and the conservative Miss Stanbury. It was wonderful! But very long, indeed.
Emily Trevelyan enjoys a friendship with her dad’s old friend, Colonel Osborne but the latter has a reputation. Rumour has it he likes married women, like really. So Mr Trevelyan asks his wife not to see him anymore because this friendship is quite scandalous. She refuses to please her husband. And that drives him mad, literally. So this story deals with married women’s lots - and single women’s as well - and the effect of jealousy and power on the human mind in what I thought to be a very realistic depiction of the human behaviour.
This novel is a bit more than 800 pages long (in my edition) and there are tons of repetitions which leave you wondering whether YOU are losing your mind, too. It’s the kind of book which is really interesting to read about, and I just can’t wait to start reading essays and reviews on this little number. However, I’m really happy I read it till the end because the cast of characters is just wonderful. I loved them all - or loved to hate them - and that’s very rare. I think Trollope had a very acute way of seeing the world and understanding the human mind. I almost felt as if I was sent back to a salon in 1860-something and that I was told about the shocking story of the Trevelyan household and the conservative Miss Stanbury. It was wonderful! But very long, indeed.