Anthony Trollope (1815–1882)
Author of Barchester Towers
About the Author
Anthony Trollope was born in London, England on April 24, 1815. In 1834, he became a junior clerk in the General Post Office, London. In 1841, he became a deputy postal surveyor in Banagher, Ireland. He was sent on many postal missions ending up as a surveyor general in the post office outside of show more London. His first novel, The Macdermots of Ballycloran, was published in 1847. His other works included Castle Richmond, The Last Chronicle of Barset, Lady Anna, The Two Heroines of Plumplington, and The Noble Jilt. He died after suffering from a paralytic stroke on December 6, 1882. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Image credit: Photo by Napoleon Sarony
Courtesy of the NYPL Digital Gallery
(image use requires permission from the New York Public Library)
Courtesy of the NYPL Digital Gallery
(image use requires permission from the New York Public Library)
Series
Works by Anthony Trollope
Works of Anthony Trollope (50 works). Includes The Way We Live Now, Barchester Towers, The Warden, The Small House at… (2009) 18 copies
[unidentified works] 10 copies
Trollope's Australia: A Selection from the Australian Passages in Australia and New Zealand (1966) 10 copies
The Edge 9 copies
Anthony Trollope: Complete Collection of Works with analysis and historical background (Annotated and Illustrated)… (2013) 6 copies
Barchester Towers [abridged] 5 copies
The Palliser Novels, Volume One, Including: Can You Forgive Her? Phineas Finn and the Eustace Diamonds (1993) 5 copies
The Palliser Novels, Volume Two, Including: Phineas Redux, the Prime Minister and the Duke's Children (1998) 4 copies
The Oxford Trollope 4 copies
Four lectures: The civil service as a profession (1861); The present condition of the northern states of the American… (1977) 3 copies
Short Fiction 3 copies
The Duke's Children, Volume 2 of 2 3 copies
The Greatest Christmas Stories & Poems in One Volume: 150 Tales, Poems & Carols (Illustrated): Silent Night, Ring Out… (2015) 3 copies
Framley Parsonage, Volume 1 of 2 2 copies
Phineas Redux (Volume 3 of 3) 2 copies
The small house at Allington vol. 3 2 copies
Victoria and Tasmania being a portion of 'Australia and New Zealand 1874 [Hardcover] (2007) 2 copies
The last chronicle of Barset vol2 2 copies
Is He Popenjoy? (Volume 1 of 2) 2 copies
An Autobiography, Vol. 2 2 copies
The Turkish Bath / On the Banks of the Jordan / An Unprotected Female at the Pyramids (2015) 2 copies
The Life of Cicero: One 2 copies
The last chronicle of Barset (1/3) — Author — 1 copy
Anthony Trollope - 5 Books 1 copy
Sir Happy Hotspur 1 copy
Rachel Ray, a novel 1 copy
Anthony Trollope collection 1 copy
The Essays of Anthony Trollope: "The habit of reading is the only enjoyment in which there is no alloy; it lasts when… (2015) 1 copy
Classic British Fiction 1 copy
Auge um Auge 1 copy
Cecilia 1 copy
[Phineas Finn, etc.] 1 copy
Ayala's Angel: Volume 2 of 3 1 copy
Essays and Articles 1 copy
Phineas Finn (Volume 3 of 3) 1 copy
The Warden - Advanced 1 copy
Phineas Finn (Volume 2 of 3) 1 copy
The last chronicle of Barset (3/3) — Author — 1 copy
The Bertrams (Volume 2 of 2) 1 copy
Islandsferd Mastiffs 1 copy
Associated Works
Doré's London: All 180 Images from the Original London Series with Selected Writings (2008) — Contributor — 55 copies
The Roads from Bethlehem: Christmas Literature from Writers Ancient and Modern (1993) — Contributor — 29 copies
Traveling Home for Chirstmas: Four Stories that Journey to the Heart of the Holiday (2005) — Contributor; Contributor — 13 copies
Dead Drunk: Tales of Intoxication and Demon Drinks: 41 (British Library Tales of the Weird) (2023) — Contributor — 7 copies
A Treasury of Great Short Stories — Contributor — 7 copies
A Reader for Writers — Contributor — 2 copies
Great Short Stories of the Nineteenth Century: First Series — Contributor — 2 copies
Short Stories Retold - Book 1 — Contributor — 1 copy
Sapte povesti de calatorie — Contributor — 1 copy
90 Masterpieces You Must Read (Vol.1): Novels, Poetry, Plays, Short Stories, Essays, Psychology & Philosophy (2020) — Contributor — 1 copy
Short Stories: Old and New — Contributor — 1 copy
English short stories of the nineteenth century — Contributor — 1 copy
Dystopia Boxed Set: 18 Dystopian Classics in One Edition — Contributor — 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- Trollope, Anthony
- Birthdate
- 1815-04-24
- Date of death
- 1882-12-06
- Burial location
- Kensal Green Cemetery, Kensington and Chelsea, London, England, UK
- Gender
- male
- Nationality
- UK
- Country (for map)
- England, UK
- Birthplace
- London, England, UK
- Place of death
- Marylebone, London, England, UK
- Places of residence
- London, England, UK
Bruges, Belgium
Banagher, County Offaly, Ireland
South Harting, West Sussex, England - Education
- Winchester College
Harrow - Occupations
- novelist
journalist
editor
postal inspector
postal clerk - Relationships
- Trollope, Frances (mother)
Trollope, Thomas Adolphus (brother)
Trollope, Frances Eleanor (sister-in-law)
Trollope, F. J. A. (son)
Trollope, Joanna (fifth-generation niece) - Organizations
- Cosmopolitan Club
Garrick Club
General Post Office - Awards and honors
- Poets' Corner, Westminster Abbey (memorial, 1991)
Members
Discussions
British Author Challenge April 2024: Barbara Pym & Anthony Trollope in 75 Books Challenge for 2024 (Yesterday 1:57pm)
Group read: Nina Balatka by Anthony Trollope in 75 Books Challenge for 2024 (February 28)
Folio Archives 362: The Parson’s Daughter by Anthony Trollope 1949 in Folio Society Devotees (February 16)
Group read: The Claverings by Anthony Trollope in 75 Books Challenge for 2023 (February 1)
January 2023: Anthony Trollope in Monthly Author Reads (July 2023)
Group read: The Belton Estate by Anthony Trollope in 75 Books Challenge for 2023 (June 2023)
Group read: Miss Mackenzie by Anthony Trollope in 75 Books Challenge for 2022 (December 2022)
Victorian Readalong Q3: Lady Anna by Anthony Trollope in Club Read 2022 (September 2022)
Group read: Rachel Ray by Anthony Trollope in 75 Books Challenge for 2021 (April 2022)
Group read: The Struggles Of Brown, Jones, And Robinson by Anthony Trollope in 75 Books Challenge for 2021 (December 2021)
Group read: Orley Farm by Anthony Trollope in 75 Books Challenge for 2021 (March 2021)
Group read: He Knew He Was Right by Anthony Trollope in 75 Books Challenge for 2017 (October 2020)
Group read: Castle Richmond by Anthony Trollope in 75 Books Challenge for 2020 (September 2020)
Group read: The Three Clerks by Anthony Trollope in 75 Books Challenge for 2019 (October 2019)
Group read: Framley Parsonage by Anthony Trollope - Thread 2 (Chapters 17 - 32) in 75 Books Challenge for 2013 (September 2019)
Group read: Framley Parsonage by Anthony Trollope in 75 Books Challenge for 2013 (September 2019)
Group read: The Kellys And The O'Kellys by Anthony Trollope in 75 Books Challenge for 2019 (July 2019)
Group read: The Prime Minister by Anthony Trollope in 75 Books Challenge for 2016 (February 2019)
The Macdermots Of Ballycloran by Anthony Trollope in 75 Books Challenge for 2018 (July 2018)
Group read: Phineas Redux by Anthony Trollope in 75 Books Challenge for 2015 (July 2018)
Group read: Dr Thorne by Anthony Trollope (Chapters 33 - 47) in 75 Books Challenge for 2013 (May 2018)
Group read: Dr Thorne by Anthony Trollope (Chapters 17 - 32) in 75 Books Challenge for 2013 (May 2018)
Group read: Dr Thorne by Anthony Trollope in 75 Books Challenge for 2013 (May 2018)
Group read: The Duke's Children (Complete Edition) by Anthony Trollope in 75 Books Challenge for 2017 (December 2017)
Tutored read: Phineas Finn by Anthony Trollope in 75 Books Challenge for 2014 (November 2017)
Group read: The Eustace Diamonds by Anthony Trollope in 75 Books Challenge for 2015 (November 2017)
Group Read: The Last Chronicle Of Barset by Anthony Trollope in 75 Books Challenge for 2014 (October 2017)
Group read: The Small House At Allington by Anthony Trollope in 75 Books Challenge for 2013 (September 2017)
Group read: Can You Forgive Her? by Anthony Trollope in 75 Books Challenge for 2013 (September 2017)
Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope - lyzard tutoring souloftherose in 75 Books Challenge for 2012 (April 2017)
Group read: The Duke's Children by Anthony Trollope in 75 Books Challenge for 2017 (April 2017)
The Warden by Anthony Trollope - lyzard tutoring souloftherose in 75 Books Challenge for 2012 (January 2017)
1815: Anthony Trollope - Chronicles of Barsetshire VI: The Last Chronicle of Barset in Literary Centennials (August 2016)
1815: Anthony Trollope - Chronicles of Barsetshire IV: Framley Parsonage in Literary Centennials (May 2016)
1815: Anthony Trollope - Chronicles of Barsetshire III: Doctor Thorne in Literary Centennials (March 2016)
1815: Anthony Trollope - Chronicles of Barsetshire V: The Small House at Allington in Literary Centennials (February 2016)
1815: Anthony Trollope - Chronicles of Barsetshire II: Barchester Towers in Literary Centennials (February 2016)
1815: Anthony Trollope - Resources and General Discussion in Literary Centennials (January 2016)
The Way We Live Now.....? in Trollope lovers unite or fight (January 2016)
1815: Anthony Trollope - Chronicles of Barsetshire I: The Warden in Literary Centennials (January 2016)
1815: Anthony Trollope - He Knew He Was Right in Literary Centennials (November 2015)
1815: Anthony Trollope - Palliser series III: The Eustace Diamonds in Literary Centennials (October 2015)
1815: Anthony Trollope - Palliser series VI: The Duke's Children in Literary Centennials (September 2015)
1815: Anthony Trollope - Palliser series IV: Phineas Redux in Literary Centennials (September 2015)
1815: Anthony Trollope - Palliser series V: The Prime Minister in Literary Centennials (August 2015)
1815: Anthony Trollope - Palliser series II: Phineas Finn in Literary Centennials (June 2015)
1815: Anthony Trollope - Palliser series I: Can You Forgive Her? in Literary Centennials (March 2015)
1815: Anthony Trollope - The Way We Live Now in Literary Centennials (February 2015)
Framley Parsonage in Trollope lovers unite or fight (May 2013)
Doctor Thorne in Trollope lovers unite or fight (December 2012)
The Last Chronicle of Barset in Trollope lovers unite or fight (June 2012)
The Warden in Trollope lovers unite or fight (February 2012)
April: Reading Anthony Trollope in Monthly Author Reads (May 2011)
The Way We Live Now: Chapters I to XX in Group Reads - Literature (February 2011)
Lily Dale in Trollope lovers unite or fight (February 2010)
Chronicles of Barsetshire in Trollope lovers unite or fight (July 2009)
Church politics in Trollope lovers unite or fight (November 2008)
Barchester Towers - NO SPOILERS, PLEASE in Trollope lovers unite or fight (October 2008)
Reviews
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Unmarried women (1)
1880s (1)
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Short and Sweet (1)
Europe (1)
1850s (3)
Favourite Books (3)
1870s (3)
1860s (6)
Victorian Period (10)
Tagged 19th Century (10)
Out of Copyright (12)
19th Century (12)
Which house? (1)
Folio Society (13)
Funny Classics (2)
A Novel Cure (2)
Christmas Books (2)
Awards
You May Also Like
Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 313
- Also by
- 84
- Members
- 45,355
- Popularity
- #358
- Rating
- 3.9
- Reviews
- 1,041
- ISBNs
- 3,699
- Languages
- 20
- Favorited
- 236
But as it’s the third book in Anthony Trollope’s Barchester Chronicles, and having enjoyed the first two volumes so much, I was curious to read the book and see how well or how poorly the television series had handled the story. I’m glad I did so, because the answer is “very badly”. The novel is far more nuanced and interesting and much less schmaltzy-romantic than the dramatisation.
The basic story, though, is the same: Thomas Thorne is an honest, hard-working doctor who has been entrusted with acting as a financial agent by the local squire and his once-wealthy family the Greshams, who have fallen on hard times —well, hard times for those used to living on the fat of the land. They are deeply in debt, primarily to Sir Richard Scatcherd, a self-made millionaire who started life as a humble stone mason.
The main interest in the story arises from Mary, Doctor Thorne’s niece—the illegitimate child of his elder brother. Mary is a quiet, decent young woman whom the doctor has raised as though she were his own daughter. She has been allowed to make friends and spend a good deal of time with the Gresham children as she grows up.
The squire’s heir, Francis (Frank) needs to marry a wealthy wife to save his family from the humiliation of losing all of their property and influence as their debts spiral out of control. But of course, Frank has fallen in love with
2 Mary Thorne, who is both penniless and illegitimate. A mighty battle thus ensues as the family strives to prevent Frank from making an injudicious liaison with Mary. They make every attempt to get him to ‘marry money’, and Mary is pressured from every side to reject Frank’s advances, which she has not encouraged.
The plot thickens as we discover more of Mary’s origins and her relationship to Sir Richard Scatcherd, who is dying of self-induced alcoholic poisoning. Ignorant of this relationship, he makes a will which will bequeath all of his enormous wealth to ‘my sister’s eldest child’ if his own son dies young.
Well, you can see where the story is going. It is told in far too facile a manner in the television series, reducing the plot to a caricature of ‘rich boy falls for poor girl, can’t marry her, poor girl becomes rich, everyone lives happily ever after’. But the book, as I say, is far more nuanced, and depicts the long struggles of conscience which both Mary and her uncle Doctor Thorne have to deal with.
There’s quite a bit of Trollope’s sly satirical humour in the novel, too, as he picks apart the pretensions of his era. Forget the television series, read the book.… (more)