A Study Guide for Anthony Trollope's "Barchester Towers," excerpted from Gale's acclaimed Novels for Students. This concise study guide includes plot summary; character analysis; author biography; study questions; historical context; suggestions for further reading; and much more. For any literature project, trust Novels for Students for all of your research needs.
In the quiet countryside of Barsetshire, controversy stirs within the tranquil walls of Hiram's Hospital, a charitable institution for elderly men. The source of contention lies in the generous income the warden Mr. Harding receives from the hospital's endowment, which some argue is excessive for his duties. As public opinion mounts against him, led by the zealous reformer John Bold, Mr. Harding finds himself torn between his sense of duty to the hospital's residents and the moral scrutiny of the broader community. Anthony Trollope's insightful portrayal of characters and moral dilemmas unfolds against a backdrop of pastoral beauty and societal scrutiny. The Warden is a timeless exploration of justice, compassion, and the clash between tradition and reform in a small English town, showcasing Trollope's mastery of psychological depth and social commentary. ANTHONY TROLLOPE [1815-1882] was an English novelist and civil servant. Among his most famous works is the series known as The Chronicles of Barsetshire, in which he delves into the intricacies of rural and ecclesiastical life.
The Three Clerks (1857) is a novel by Anthony Trollope, set in the lower reaches of the Civil Service. It draws on Trollope's own experiences as a junior clerk in the General Post Office, and has been called the most autobiographical of Trollope's novels.[1] In 1883 Trollope gave it as his opinion that The Three Clerks was a better novel than any of his earlier ones, which included The Warden and Barchester Towers.
John Bold loves Eleanor Harding, but is campaigning against her father, the Warden, for mismanagement of charitable funds. This witty love story combines a comic portrayal of life in an English cathedral close with larger social and political issues. This edition includes Trollope's last Barset fiction 'The Two Heroines of Plumplington'.
