The Warden
The Warden
The first of Trollope's ''Barsetshire'' series concerns Mr. Harding, elderly warden of Hiram's Hospital and Precentor of Barchester Cathedral. An engaging introduction to the life of the Victorian clergy and the behind-the-scenes politics that continue in Barchester Towers.
Book Excerpt
o back both his arguments and his conscience, it may be imagined that Mr Harding has never felt any compunction as to receiving his quarterly sum of two hundred pounds. Indeed, the subject has never presented itself to his mind in that shape. He has talked not unfrequently, and heard very much about the wills of old founders and the incomes arising from their estates, during the last year or two; he did even, at one moment, feel a doubt (since expelled by his son-in-law's logic) as to whether Lord Guildford was clearly entitled to receive so enormous an income as he does from the revenues of St Cross; but that he himself was overpaid with his modest eight hundred pounds,--he who, out of that, voluntarily gave up sixty-two pounds eleven shillings and fourpence a year to his twelve old neighbours,--he who, for the money, does his precentor's work as no precentor has done it before, since Barchester Cathedral was built,--such an idea has never sullied his quiet, or disturbed his conscience.
Nevertheless,
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The start of Trollope's Barsetshire novels, "The Warden" satirizes both church sinecures and fiery reformers. The problem for modern U.S. readers is grasping the role the Church of England played in 19th-century British society. It also requires patience with Trollope's sometimes ponderous prose, and his tendency to make his characters well-rounded at the expense of their humorous qualities.
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This slim volume is the first of the six Barsetshire novels by the author. It tells the tale of a good man in an Anglican cathedral town whose work running a charity institution comes under attack from the press. How he and his family react makes this a particularly heartwarming choice and a good introduction to Trollope, who is becoming one of my favorite novelists.
12/05/2010
A compelling plot and strong characters. This is the first book I've read by Trollope. I'm going to read more. Recommended.
12/04/2010
Surely the best of the Barchester novels. The almost saintly Rev. Septimus Harding becomes a victim of the forces of the age.
A great introduction to Barchester and one of my favourite novels.
A great introduction to Barchester and one of my favourite novels.
02/05/2009
A simple story that is well written, the charcters are real, they have substance. A tale of moral fibre that we could all take something from int todays world of greed. The language is easy even if there are several words I need the dictionary for. It is the sort of book that you enjoy and broadens your command of the English language
12/12/2005
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