But there are a number of weaknesses. The most important is thematic; the lesser weaknesses are technical – to do with the art and craft of novel-writing. The main problem arises from the fact that the trigger for the entire drama is political and financial malpractice in the established church. This corruption ranges from simony (the selling of church preferments and benefices) to nepotism (favouritism to relatives in making appointments).

Undoubtedly the main strength of this novel is the characterisation of the Reverend Harding – the gentle, considerate widower who looks after his charges in the hospital with loving care; who has a passion for music and has published a book on the subject at his own expense; and who plays the cello imaginatively when in an emotionally charged state. He also has a finely developed conscience, which does not let him continue in a sinecure that provides him with a generous living for little effort and few responsibilities. And, as he finished what he had to say, he played up such a tune as never before had graced the chambers of any attorney-general. He was standing up, gallantly fronting Sir Abraham, and his right arm passed with bold and rapid sweeps before him, as though he were embracing some huge instrument, which allowed him to stand thus erect; and with the fingers of his left hand he stopped, with preternatural velocity, a multitude of strings, which ranged from the top of his collar to the bottom of the lappet of his coat. But the study of this moral problem remains at a purely personal level. The warden’s distressed state of mind is traced minutely by Trollope, but no attempt is made to explore the larger issues of ecclesiastical politics, finances, and corruption – even though famous legal cases are mentioned in the narrative.BARCHESTER CHRONICLES by Anthony Trollope Read by a Full Cast | Audiobook Review". AudioFile Magazine . Retrieved 31 October 2020. Trollope and the Matter of Ireland," Anthony Trollope, ed. Tony Bareham, London: Vision Press 1980, pp. 24–25 The reader therefore is left with no uplifting conclusion to the novel – except that Reverend Harding has acted according to his conscience and paid the material price of doing so. This plot construction is admirably restrained, and the best feature of the novel.

Edwards, P. D. (2016) [1968]. Anthony Trollope. Oxon: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-315-61652-0. in Wright, Andrew (1983). Anthony Trollope: Dream and Art. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 978-1-349-06626-1. Klinkenborg, Verlyn (2008). "Life, Love and the Pleasures of Literature in Barsetshire". The New York Times. ProQuest 897120573 . Retrieved 10 October 2020. Chapter 6. Bold’s sister Mary tries to persuade him to give up the case for the sake of their friendship with the Harding family – but he is resistant. Mary attends a party at the warden’s home, following which Eleanor exchanges views with both her father and with Bold. A series was not planned when Trollope began writing The Warden. [3] Rather, after creating Barsetshire, he found himself returning to it as the setting for his following works. [3] It was not until 1878, 11 years after The Last Chronicle of Barset, that these six novels were collectively published as the Chronicles of Barset.Archdeacon Theophilus Grantly, Mr Harding's indefatigable son-in-law, married to Susan Grantley, originally Susan Harding. The archdeacon's father is the Bishop of Barchester. He does not agree with John Bold and is opposed to his father-in-law relinquishing his office. Conclusion. Harding moves into lodgings and eventually becomes preceptor in a small Barchester parish. living in reduced circumstances. Eleanor marries Bold, who gradually becomes friendly with the archdeacon. He has no ambition to speak of. He is diffident to point of wimpiness, but in a very decorous way. His only distinguishing characteristic, aside from a profound gentleness, is his talent for chanting and for playing the violoncello. Indeed, he is most deeply himself, most deeply at peace, when he is playing his violoncello. The Warden is set in the fictional town of Barchester, Barsetshire. It takes place in an almshouse called Hiram’s Hospital. Hiram’s looks after elderly laborers and farmworkers who can’t earn a living anymore. A wealthy man called John Hiram established the almshouse centuries ago, and it now runs on charitable donations.