This is only the second Anthony Trollope novel I have read.  A couple of years ago, over the summer, I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Way We Live Now (1875).  It’s large cast of characters and intertwining plot lines sustained my interest without fail.  I really wish I could say the same about Barchester Towers (1857), but I have struggled through this novel at times.  I have read it as part of The Classics Club Challenge and did not manage to meet the Spin #45 deadline. There were aspects about this novel I did enjoy though, which is what made me determined to carry on reading.

This is the second novel in his Barsetshire series, and I am not sure it matters too much that I have not read The Warden.  The novel begins with the death of the much loved Bishop, and rather than his son succeeding him as expected, Mr Proudie is appointed.  I enjoyed some of the intrigue here, particularly the power struggles between the mild mannered Bishop Proudie and his manipulative and domineering wife.  In what seems to be Trollope style, there were various interweaving plot lines and a large cast of characters.  Initially, Mrs Proudie forms a connection with the newly arrived and wonderfully named Obadiah Slope, a somewhat slimy and rather Dickensian character.  However, he falls out of favour due to his fawning attendance to Signora Neroni.  This is one of the elements of the novel I found enjoyable, particularly this early exchange between Mrs Proudie and Mr Slope:

‘Mr Slope, I did not at all approve your conduct the other night with that Italian woman. Any one would have thought that you were her lover.’

‘Good gracious, my dear madam,’ said Mr Slope, with a look of horror.  ‘Why, she is a married woman.’

… Mr Slope opened wide his huge protruding eyes, and stared out of them with a look of well-feigned surprise.  ‘Why, Mrs Proudie,’ said he, ‘I did but fetch her something to eat when she said she was hungry.

‘And you have called on her since,’ continued she, looking at the culprit with the stern look of a detective policeman in the act of declaring himself.

Mr Slope turned over in his mind whether it would be well for him to tell this termagent at once that he should call on whom he liked, and do what his liked; but he remembered that his footing in the Barchester was not yet sufficiently firm, and that it would be better to him to pacify her.  (Chapter XVII)

This extract shows the quality of Trollope’s writing, particularly how adept he is at creating characterisation through his skillful use of language.

In addition, Mr Slope becomes one of the hopeful suitors of the wealthy widow Eleanor Bold.  Poor Eleanor has several suitors, mostly attracted by her wealth.  Some of this plot line I enjoyed, some I found rather frustrating, particularly the number of misunderstandings between Eleanor and Mr Arabin.

Although I found this novel a bit of a slog at times, it has not put me off reading more Trollope, maybe I will make a start on the Palliser novels someday…