Cousin Henry (Oxford World's Classics) (original 1879; edition 1879)

This was my first reading of Trollope and I found his work very intriguing. The author was certainly aware of the anguish of guilt as he led us painfully through the experience of Cousin Henry in being the only one who knows the location of the last will of the old Squire--a will that would disinherit him of a large estate. As he agonizes over whether or not to reveal this information, we go through the twisting and turning of his reasoning, his rationalizations, his self-righteousness, his self pity, his lack of sleep and lack of appetite and finally his terror before man and God. We witness his great relief of leaving what he once held so dear and see the appetite restored and a happiness in returning to a once despised job with an unburdened conscience. There is also a very interesting look into the convoluted reasoning of the Squire's niece, the heiress in the last will. She and the man she loves are people of unusual honor who almost lose the hope of marriage by stubbornly sticking to questionable principles. An interior examination of cowardice and deceit that can still resonate in some small corner of each of our minds. ( )

Sometimes a rather slow read. But it's story and the well depicted inner struggle of Henry make the book worth reading anyway.

http://www.lonelymountain.net/books/aug04.html#trollopech ( )

A deep portrayal of the dilemma a man faces when he covers up the existence of a will that would disinherit him. His weakness and lack of courage, firstly to be honest, and secondly to cover up his dishonesty, eventually bring his downfall. Also an interesting examination of the idea of property passing to the first male heir (primogeniture), rather than to a most-beloved, more closely related female family member. Disaster befalls a family which brings an unknown male heir into the property, when tenants and townsfolk alike expected the more well-loved niece of the deceased to inherit. ( )