Download PDF Barchester Towers Oxford World Classics Anthony Trollope John Bowen Books
Download As PDF : Barchester Towers Oxford World Classics Anthony Trollope John Bowen Books
'Mr Slope flattered himself that he could out-manoeuvre the lady...he did not doubt of ultimate triumph.'
Barchester Towers (1857) was the book that made Trollope's reputation and it remains his most popular and enjoyable novel. The arrival of a new bishop in Barchester, accompanied by his formidable wife and ambitious chaplain, Obadiah Slope, sets the town in turmoil as Archdeacon Grantly declares 'War, war, internecine war!' on Bishop Proudie and his supporters. Who will come out on top in the battle between the archdeacon, the bishop, Mr Slope, and Mrs Proudie?
The livelihood of Mr Harding, the saintly hero of The Warden, is once more under threat but clerical warfare finds itself tangled up in the wayward (and sometimes perverse) desires of the many courtships, seductions, and romances of the book. Who will marry Eleanor Bold? Can any man resist the charms of the exotically beautiful 'La Signora Madeline Vesey Neroni'? Will the oily Mr Slope finally get his comeuppance? John Bowen's introduction examines the literary skill with which Trollope combines comedy and acute social and pyschological observation in this new edition.
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.
Download PDF Barchester Towers Oxford World Classics Anthony Trollope John Bowen Books
"This second book in the series takes a different literary approach leaning more on the comical side rather than the dramatic. The first book The Warden introduced the inner bureaucracy within the church establishment of the mid 1800's. While Trollope seems to always be humor conscious this second book could almost be considered a comedy. The Warden focused on the Warden and his issue mainly while this one has a giant cast of characters with recurring characters from the first book.
The main recurring characters are Mr Harding, Eleanor, the archbishop, Tom Towers, the old men of the hospital.
Trollope is a serious artist and there definitely will be a point/lesson to be learned in all of his books.
This ones main theme is about assuming things about other people and what they are likely to be thinking.
All of the characters (including Mr. Harding) at one point or another assume something about either a colleague, family member or friend that ends up working to their detriment. This is worked out brilliantly by the criss crossing of assuming and secretly judging each other that ends up being rather complex.
Without going into details about the plot so as to not give away key plot points from the first novel i will talk about the story in a way that concentrates on the symbolism and morality/ethics issues.
This story uses the light comedy element very well in that the little details and events slowly build up to absurdity.
The main new characters of this installment are 1. Mr Slope and 2. Mrs Thorn 3. Mrs Proudie. These 3 new additions add wonderful elements of comedy. For example Mrs Thorn is slightly loopy in that she is stuck in the past- as in medieval times--she throws a party with primitive games that are dangerous and not appealing to her guests. 2. Mr Slope (as well as 2 others ) is certain a character in the book is so full of himself that he pursues Eleanor to the extent of delivering a marriage proposal only to find out she is disgusted by him--(this is funny because he is the villain of the story).
Mrs Proudie is the super dominant wife of the Bishop who controls every move he makes.
These animated characters are always interacting with each other to make an already absurd setting a playground for comedic interactions.
Within the comedy Trollope is teaching the readers very important lessons about how people communicate and their weaknesses.
This is real art. Anyone can look at the relationship between Mr Harding and his daughter Eleanor with compassion.
By watching those 2 assume things about each other Trollope is showing how damaging not confronting a friend or family member can be. Trollope is also concerned about people who hold emotion or reserves inside. By making his most compassionate character Mr Harding, susceptible to a negative atmosphere of gossip, Trollope is showing the reader he is mainly concerned with making his characters as human and believable as possible. He does this by showing us all people are prone to weakness of character. Even Mr Harding and Eleanor-( as we have seen in the first book Eleanor is a little more prone to human error than Mr Harding) are prone to make mistakes that can have a domino effect. This story is as important now in 2018 as it was when it came out. Why is this? Think vacuum chambers in the media and social networking that compartmentalizes the truth. By filling up with one biased news source a person can develop wrong assumptions about another person just like all of the characters do in this story."
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Tags : Barchester Towers (Oxford World's Classics) (8601416488769) Anthony Trollope, John Bowen Books,Anthony Trollope, John Bowen,Barchester Towers (Oxford World's Classics),Oxford University Press,0199665869,Barsetshire (England Imaginary place);Fiction.,Barsetshire (England Imaginary place),Clergy,Clergy;Fiction.,Domestic fiction,Domestic fiction.,19th Century English Literature,Classic fiction (pre c 1945),Classics,FICTION / Classics,Fiction,Literature - Classics / Criticism,Literature/English | British Literature,Literature Classics,Trollope, Anthony, 1815-1882
Barchester Towers Oxford World Classics Anthony Trollope John Bowen Books Reviews :
Barchester Towers Oxford World Classics Anthony Trollope John Bowen Books Reviews
- This second book in the series takes a different literary approach leaning more on the comical side rather than the dramatic. The first book The Warden introduced the inner bureaucracy within the church establishment of the mid 1800's. While Trollope seems to always be humor conscious this second book could almost be considered a comedy. The Warden focused on the Warden and his issue mainly while this one has a giant cast of characters with recurring characters from the first book.
The main recurring characters are Mr Harding, Eleanor, the archbishop, Tom Towers, the old men of the hospital.
Trollope is a serious artist and there definitely will be a point/lesson to be learned in all of his books.
This ones main theme is about assuming things about other people and what they are likely to be thinking.
All of the characters (including Mr. Harding) at one point or another assume something about either a colleague, family member or friend that ends up working to their detriment. This is worked out brilliantly by the criss crossing of assuming and secretly judging each other that ends up being rather complex.
Without going into details about the plot so as to not give away key plot points from the first novel i will talk about the story in a way that concentrates on the symbolism and morality/ethics issues.
This story uses the light comedy element very well in that the little details and events slowly build up to absurdity.
The main new characters of this installment are 1. Mr Slope and 2. Mrs Thorn 3. Mrs Proudie. These 3 new additions add wonderful elements of comedy. For example Mrs Thorn is slightly loopy in that she is stuck in the past- as in medieval times--she throws a party with primitive games that are dangerous and not appealing to her guests. 2. Mr Slope (as well as 2 others ) is certain a character in the book is so full of himself that he pursues Eleanor to the extent of delivering a marriage proposal only to find out she is disgusted by him--(this is funny because he is the villain of the story).
Mrs Proudie is the super dominant wife of the Bishop who controls every move he makes.
These animated characters are always interacting with each other to make an already absurd setting a playground for comedic interactions.
Within the comedy Trollope is teaching the readers very important lessons about how people communicate and their weaknesses.
This is real art. Anyone can look at the relationship between Mr Harding and his daughter Eleanor with compassion.
By watching those 2 assume things about each other Trollope is showing how damaging not confronting a friend or family member can be. Trollope is also concerned about people who hold emotion or reserves inside. By making his most compassionate character Mr Harding, susceptible to a negative atmosphere of gossip, Trollope is showing the reader he is mainly concerned with making his characters as human and believable as possible. He does this by showing us all people are prone to weakness of character. Even Mr Harding and Eleanor-( as we have seen in the first book Eleanor is a little more prone to human error than Mr Harding) are prone to make mistakes that can have a domino effect. This story is as important now in 2018 as it was when it came out. Why is this? Think vacuum chambers in the media and social networking that compartmentalizes the truth. By filling up with one biased news source a person can develop wrong assumptions about another person just like all of the characters do in this story. - Why did it take me so long to get into Trollope? Everyone has loved him for more than a century. If you enjoy gentle humor, some little romantic heat if no sex, and a window into another time, you will be happy with this guy. is a perfect vehicle as you can look up those old forgotten words as you go.
Bad guys exist but no pathology, no horror. The characters are so full that even though it sometimes seemed there was an easier way out of their trouble, I was not impatient - they have to find their way.
Trollope was a conservative, still he is perfect for me in these latter days. - After reading "The Warden" (the precursor to "Barchester Towers") and the 800-page "The Way We Live Now" last year, I thought I might have overdosed on Trollope. But within a few chapters, I was hooked on this story of a little English parish and the small, yet significant, dramas of its inhabitants. Trollope is a master at poking fun at people's vanities. Much of the novel's plot centers around misunderstandings that could be easily resolved, if only the characters would be honest with one another -- but, of course, their pride prevents them. When the minor clerics are awaiting the death of the old dean of the cathedral, while secretly calculating their chances of getting his job, I was reminded of my own hypocrisies. And the failed, fumbled proposals by the suitors of Eleanor Bold are hilarious. Trollope's sly direct address of the reader adds a level of intimacy that makes you feel completely invested in his funny, complex, vivid world.
- I am an enthusiastic fan of Trollope and his excellence with character description. As other reviewers mention, his comic side was in evidence with this book. How can I ever forget the Reverend Obadiah Slop who added the "e" to his name for the sake of euphony. One of the characters we truly love to hate and hope he receives his comeuppance.
The "elderly" Miss Thorne was a delight as were the happy-go-lucky Bertie Stanhope and his sister the delicious Signora Neroni. Trollope definitely nailed the infatuation some parents display in regard to their offspring.
My primary reason for a four-star rating deals with the sometimes too long focus on other unpleasant characters such as the domineering Mrs. Proudie, the pompous Archdeacon Grantly, and the way-too-often mention of the 14 young Quiverfuls. (Even though it was the way of Victorian ladies, at times I wanted to shake Eleanor.)
To my way of thinking, the reader is beautifully treated to the warring factions within the ecclesiastical realm in addition to in-depth exposure to the power behind the throne. I look forward to completing the series.
