Reviews

The Last Chronicle of Barset by Sophie Gilmartin, Anthony Trollope

jenn756's review against another edition

5.0

I’ve committed the terrible crime of reading this Last Chronicle of Barset before any of the other books, so now I’ve ruined it for myself. It was only that the Barsetshire novels are in total 3000 pages, they said this last one was the best one and it seemed like a good idea at the time…
It is a marvellous book - leisurely, very genteel and comfortable – despite the awfulness of Mr Crawley’s predicament. Trollope’s cloistered world of Archdeacons and Bishops and Deans is a pleasant one to live in I think. It does apparently wrap up all the lose ends of the other books, and there’s a huge cast of characters to get your head round. Some of the subplots don’t seem to fit too well with the main plot – I’m thinking of the story of Clara Von Shriever and Dobbs Broughton here, which has nothing much to do with Mr Crawley.
Mr Crawley is a vividly drawn person and full of contradictions - intense, highly intelligent yet without emotional intelligence; moral, yet willing to sacrifice his family; despising worldliness yet jealous of others’ possessions. His vividness apparently is due to him being drawn from real life – Trollope’s father. Not the sort of man who should have married and had children obviously.
The other strong character is the awful Mrs Proudie. As I’ve not read the rest of the novels I’ve probably missed her awfulness being featured elsewhere – a frustrated, ambitious woman. Today we’d celebrate her and call her dynamic and ambitious and feature her on `The Apprentice’. It fact several of the finalists bear more than a passing similarity to Mrs Proudie.
It is a monumentally long book, a real pudding of a novel, so it took forever to complete. Not that it should have been shorter, its meandering course was very relaxing, a really enjoyable read. The sort of book I bet that would be popular in wartime, or in times of tribulation for there is a comforting security and permanence to it.

jenmcmaynes's review against another edition

3.0

3.5 stars. My opinion was very mixed on this last visit to Barset. On the one hand, it was very pleasant to see so many old friends from the previous 5 books. On the other hand, the main plot -- the story of the stolen check and Mr. Crawley's problems -- was not very interesting (mostly because of how unsympathetic a character Mr. Crawley was). And I found it particularly frustrating that so much space was devoted to John Eames and Lily Dale (the main characters from The Small House at Allington)(seriously, probably a quarter of the book was devoted to them)--only to have the same conclusion as before (vague, but spoiler free). So. I could go on and on -- as I should after 900 pages -- but I'll just sum up by saying it was all just a little unsatisfying. I still highly recommend this series, but the book is not great as a stand-alone entry.

cmtynan's review against another edition

5.0

This novel was a delight from beginning to end. Trollope ended this series in a complex and satisfying way. As I read the last few chapters I felt as if I was saying goodbye to old friends, and was frequently moved to tears.

flamingo_and_owl_books's review against another edition

funny lighthearted reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

nadaoq's review against another edition

emotional hopeful relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

brontesaurus84's review against another edition

4.0

Wonderful series of books. Sad to leave barsetshire behind for good, along with a cast of characters Dickens would be proud of.

rojaed's review against another edition

emotional funny informative lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

travelsalongmybookshelf's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I have very very slowly read what I have affectionately christened The Last Chonker Of Barset as we leave Barsetshire and some of my favourite characters in fiction. 

 

I have stopped and started this novel but like an old friend, it has been easy to pick up and restart my conversation each time. 

 

‘You see, sir, nobody can possibly believe that such a man as that stole twenty pounds.’ 

 

Josiah Crawley, perpetual curate and grump of Hogglestock has been accused of stealing twenty pounds. He, bless him, basically can’t remember how he got this twenty pounds and ends up being sent to the assizes. Obviously it causes huge upset and ramifications for all concerned, including his daughter Grace, who is being wooed by Henry Grantly; son of our fave Archdeacon. Mrs Proudie is apoplectic over the whole thing and this just gives so much fabulous writing, I can’t tell you! She is awful but I just love her as a character. Lily Dale and Jonny Eames are still dancing about without any declarations and even the gorgeous Mr Harding crops up. 

 

‘But to me Barset has been a real county, and it’s city a real city, and the spires and towers have been before my eyes, and the voices of the people are known to my ears, and the pavement of the city ways are familiar to my footsteps. To them all I now say farewell.’ 

 

This last book contains two of my most favourite characters I have found, the kind and unassuming Mr Harding, who we first meet in The Warden and the unparalleled and often vicious Mrs Proudie, who could grace any modern book with the ease of her awfulness. 

Reading the Barsetshire Chronicles through the year has been a delight, Trollope’s observations of the social niceties of Victorian England are brilliant. He writes women very well indeed, he does drama and social commentary in such a gentle way, yet it can be very pointed at times. 

 

Ends are tied, farewells are made and I am sad to leave Barsetshire.

bibliobethreads's review against another edition

funny hopeful lighthearted reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

rosepoldark's review against another edition

5.0

Oh how i loved this, there is so much wonderful about this book. First of all it was a wonderful end to the barsetshire chronicles and tied the ends very well and secondly i just love Johnny Eames and his storylines 

even though i am so very sad that he did not end up with Lily, Poor Johnny Eames indeed. I was very surprised by the ending of his story with miss Demolines it turned very thrillery at the end. But still i feel so sorry for him, i know that he may have been a bit too percistent with Lily but still is that ass Crosbie had not ruined everything it might all have been all right. But i also understand Lily, you should not marry someone just because everyone around you think that you should mary him, i think that is a very strong message, even though i would have wished her to have ended up with him like everyone around her wished. Lastly I really liked the Major Grantly, Grace romance, it seems like the romance from Doctor Thorne and Framley Parsonage all over again, but this time the male love interest was better in my opinion, that he wants to sacrifice everything for her is just so romantic. And i do understand that he might have been a little dissapointed that he did not have to give it all up and live in "poverty" with his love, who does not want to fantasise about that sort of thing ;-)