The warden barchester towers

Without spoiling the novel, Bishop Proudie arrives in Barchester, with the soon to be infamous Mrs Proudie and his chaplain, Mr Obadiah Slope. The exact time of death is vital to his son who has hopes of the bishopric. Otherwise life has continued, except that the Bishop is dying. Mr Harding has resigned and moved from Hiram’s Hospital, Eleanor married and lost John Bold, but has his son also called John. Instead of the issue of the amount paid to Mr Harding, lines of battle emerge between the clergy and their supporters, and true characters emerge. Barchester Towers is a far more sophisticated book, with many more characters of significance and intertwining story lines. It would be wise to read “The Warden” first as the characters and setting are depicted only a little while later. If you liked Trollope’s “The Warden” you will love “Barchester Towers”. (A Photo from the Trollope Society of the late, great Alan Rickman as the odious Obadiah Slope, Chaplain in the BBC version of the Barsetshire Chronicles)