Name: The Warden
Author: Anthony Trollope
ISBN: 9780199665440

The Warden

Anthony Trollope

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Author Description

'You might pass Eleanor Harding in the street without notice, but you could hardly pass an evening with her and not lose your heart.'John Bold has lost his heart to Eleanor Harding but he is a political radical who has launched a campaign against the management of the charity of which her father is the Warden. This witty love story combines a comic portrayal of life in an English cathedral with larger social and political issues.The Warden is the first of six books which form Trollope's Barsetshire series of novels. The thoroughly revised new edition includes 'The Two Heroines of Plumplington', the short story which Trollope added just before his death to provide a final episode in the annals of Barsetshire.ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

Menrva's Summary

THE PULSE

A mild-mannered clergyman finds his peaceful life upended when a local reformer initiates a public campaign against the administration of his charitable trust. Septimus Harding, the Warden of Hiram's Hospital, must navigate the conflict between his personal integrity and the aggressive scrutiny of John Bold, a man who happens to be in love with Harding's daughter, Eleanor. The narrative examines the tension between traditional ecclesiastical authority and the encroaching forces of Victorian reform. Trollope employs a third-person omniscient narrator to dissect the social hierarchies and moral dilemmas inherent in the quiet cathedral town of Barchester.

INSIDE THE PAGES

Satirical examination of Victorian ecclesiastical politics
Exploration of the conflict between personal conscience and public duty
Detailed character studies of the Barchester clergy and local gentry
Use of irony to highlight the absurdity of institutional bureaucracy
Romantic subplot serving as a catalyst for social friction
Realistic depiction of mid-19th-century English provincial life
Ethical dilemmas regarding the distribution of charitable funds
Episodic narrative structure typical of serialized Victorian fiction

THE COLLECTIVE ECHO

Readers and critics frequently highlight the novel's gentle humor and its keen observation of human fallibility within institutional settings. Discussion often centers on the moral ambiguity of the central conflict, as Trollope avoids painting characters in purely black-and-white terms. The pacing is noted for its deliberate, measured quality, which mirrors the slow-moving nature of the cathedral society it depicts. Many appreciate how the author balances the intimate romantic arc with broader questions about the ethics of reform and the preservation of tradition. The work remains a staple for those interested in the social mechanics of the Victorian era.

Page Count:
281

Publication Date:
2014-11-09

Publisher:
Oxford University Press

ISBN-10:
0199665443

ISBN-13:
9780199665440

Romance

Satire

Victorian

English literature

classic

Social Commentary