Sir Harry Hotspur of Humblethwaite

Sir Harry Hotspur has a title, estates and money, but no son. All will go to his daughter, Emily, except the title, which must be inherited by a cousin. Sir Harry would like to see the title and property joined, but cousin George is an unsavoury sort, a gambler, a card shark, and consorter with loose women. Were he not a relative, he would never be allowed in the house, yet because he is, Emily meets him, falls in love with him, and, against her parents' wishes, engages herself to him, with sad results.

A very realistic novel of love, ambition, family devotion, the book is never trite. Trollope masterfully delves into his characters' psychology. While tout comprendre is not always tout pardonner, one at times can find sympathy even for a show more lout. show less

** spoiler alert ** Sir Harry Hotspur plans to leave his large fortune and estate to his only surviving child, Emily, but the title will be inherited by his cousin George. Harry considers the idea of Emily marrying George and thus keeping the title and estate together. However, there are questions as to George's character. Harry cannot decide what to do and in the meantime Emily and George get engaged, Emily intending that George should turn over a new leaf and be redeemed by her.

This short novel has a pretty simple plot and not a lot really happens. Harry dithers, refuses to tell Emily the details of George's bad conduct, with the result that she believes him merely to be extravagant, whereas in fact he is dishonest and a cheat, with show more no firm intention ever to reform. The novel has its moments - I liked the way George got his women friends to write all his letters for him, thereby enabling Mrs Morton to ensure that his letter to Emily at the end is harsh and dismissive - but it was very one tone and a little repetitive. The ending was melodramatic, but perhaps for the best, since Emily was very annoying. show less

Damn good yarn as always with Trollope. The daughter is a frightful Madam refusing to change her mind once she's given her promise of betrothal to the caddish cousin george, Despite his caddishness being revealed. Funniest scenes are when George has a few moments with her as engaged couple and finds the idea of life with this stiff high-principled lady might not be such fun after all. Strange from a modern perspective are several things: Sir Harry's concern for the family name as opposed to the individuals involved, his not giving the evidence of Geo's wrongdoing to his daughter - he wants desperately to convince her but doesn't give his reasons (one wonders if Trollope is being ironically aware, but i think not); the irrevocable aspect show more of daughter's promise seems suspiciously sexual with much talk of "giving herself", has she actually been seduced by George? The scenes with Geo's mistress are very convincing though she's never called by sic a name, we know whats going on there. the low life scenes with moneylenders are convincing too though the constant reference to one as "the jew" are uncomfortable in a modern light. show less

This book was slow to grab me, but once it did, I could hardly bear to do anything but read it. My previous favourite Trollope was Barchester Towers, which was very much of the tradition of Gaskell's Cranford series and Jane Austen's minutae of the upper middle class and aristocratic life style of the costume-drama time of history. This very long and book was quite different delving deep into the lives of just a few characters and also because it is the only one of Trollope's books where everything does not work out in the end. It has a psychological depth that was also evident in Barchester Towers but is not generally a mark of the work of Trollope and that together with the wonderful writing elevates it to one of my favourite books of show more the year so far, and possibly one of my favourites of all time. show less

Satire about the (unsuccessful) attempt of a wealthy girl to reform her black sheep of a cousin so she could marry him.

Not Trollope's best but enjoyable enough. The character that I ended up sympathizing with most was the title character, Sir Harry.

A bit of a disappointment. The book, to this Trollope fan, seemed more like a sketch for a novel than a fully developed work. Too bad -- the scoundrel in this book, and his associates, seem like rich fodder for the novelist had he wanted to take a more lighthearted turn with the story. In the end, the characters feel rather one-dimensional.

Of the half dozen Trollope novels I've read, this is the third which follows the same plot. Heiress chooses to marry a rogue, complications follow.