A review by travelsalongmybookshelf
The Last Chronicle of Barset by Anthony Trollope

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.