Barchester Towers (1857) (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit

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Summary edit see section history

Characters/People edit see section history

• The Rev. Obadiah Slope: The domestic chaplain to Bishop Proudie at Barchester. At first a protege of the Bishop's wife, but later her enemy when he endeavored to wrest the control of the diocese from her hands. He might have married one of the many Proudie daughters, but instead wooed Eleanor Bold, and was for a time enamored of Signora Neroni.At the command of Mrs. Proudie he was finally dismissed, and married a rich widow in London, where he had a church in the vicinity of the New Road. I have heard it asserted that he is lineally descended from that eminent physician who assisted at the birth of Mr. T. Shandy, and that in early years he added an 'e' to his name, for the sake of euphony.
• The Rev. Septimus Harding: The Warden of Hiram's Hospital, who resigned when convinced that he was receiving more money than he was entitled to, and became Rector of the little church of St. Cuthbert's. Author of Harding's Church Music.Most prominent in The Warden and Barchester Towers, but appears in each of, the six novels of the Barchester series.
• The Rev. Francis Arabin: "...the favoured disciple of the great Dr. Gwynne, a high churchman ... a poet and also a polemical writer ...an eloquent clergyman, a droll, odd, humourous, energetic, conscientious man ... a thorough gentleman. ... He was above the middle height, well made, and very active. His hair which had. been jet black, was now tinged with gray, but his face bore no signs of years.... The cheek bones were rather too high for beauty, and the formation of the forehead too massive and heavy; but the eyes, nose and mouth were perfect. There was a continual play of lambent fire about his eyes, which gave promise of either pathos or humour whenever he essayed to speak, and that promise was rarely broken. There was a gentle play about his mouth which declared that his wit never descended to sarcasm, and that there was no ill-nauture in his repartee"
• Mrs. Proudie: The domineering wife of the Bishop of Barchester, who vies with Lady Glen and Planty Pal as Trollope's greatest character. She won her struggle with Mr. Slope, the Bishop's chaplain, for primacy in the diocese and drove him out of it, but when conquered by Mr. Crawley and Dr. Tempest she died and released the poor Bishop from his thralldom.
• Mary Bold: Sister of John Bold, and a devoted friend of Eleanor Harding, later her sister-in-law.
• Mrs. Eleanor (Harding) Arabin: The younger daughter of the Rev. Mr. Harding and much pursued by suitors, John Bold, Mr. Slope, Bertie Stanhope and Mr. Arabin.She married John Bold and had one child, Johnnie. Her second husband was Mr. Arabin, their children being Eleanor ( Ellie ) and Susan, called Posy
• Bertie Stanhope: Brother of Signora Madeline (Stanhope) Neroni.
• Florinda Grantly: One of the Archdeacon's daughters, in The Warden spoken of as the elder, but later as the younger. Her death is noted in The Small House as Allington.
• Monica Thorne: "In her person and dress she was perfect, and well she knew her own perfection. She was a small elegantly made old woman, with a face from which the glow of her youth had not departed without leaving some streaks of a roseate hue. She was proud of her colour, proud of her grey hair which she wore in short crisp curls peering out all around her face from the dainty white lace cap.... She was proud of her teeth, which were still white and numerous, proud of her bright cheery eye, proud of her short jaunty step, and very proud of the neat, precise, small feet with which those steps were taken. She was proud also, ay, very proud, of the rich brocaded silk in which it was her custom to ruffle through her drawing room"
• Mrs. Letitia Quiverful: Wife of the Vicar of Puddingdale. A bedraggled, overworked but plucky mother of fourteen children, who fought for them and for her too meek husband with spirit and tenacity, and with final success.
• Dr. Gwynne: The Master of Lazarus, and a power in Oxford. Through his friendship with Archdeacon Grantly and Mr. Arabin, the deanship of the Barchester Cathedral was offered to Mr. Harding in the face of a strong party behind the candidacy of Mr. Slope.
• Signora Madeline (Stanhope) Neroni: "The beauty of her face was uninjured, and that beauty was of a peculiar kind. Her copious rich brown hair was worn in Grecian bandeaux round her head, displaying as much as possible of her forehead and cheeks. Her forehead, though rather low, was very beautiful from its perfect contour and pearly whiteness. Her eyes were long and large, and marvellously bright .... The eyelashes were long and perfect .... Her nose and mouth and teeth and chin and neck and bust were perfect"
• Mrs. Lookaloft: Add a description of this character.
• Susan
• De Courcy
• Mrs. Greenacre
• Dr. Trefoil
• Tom Staple
• Mr. Plomacy
• Mr. Thome
• Hiram
• John Bold
• Mrs. Grandy
• Ethelbert
• Mrs. Clantantram
• Lotte

Quotes edit see section history

• “Nothing fatigues the body so much as weariness of spirit”

Setting & Locations edit see section history

• Plumstead Episcopi
• St. Ewold
• London
• Ullathome
• England
• Oxford
• Rome
• Italy
• High Street
• Puddingdale
• Carrara
• St. Cuthbert
• Rosebank
• Sidonia
• Hospital

First Sentence edit see section history

Table of Contents edit see section history

Series & Lists edit see section history

Preceded by The Warden, and followed by Doctor Thorne.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Anthony Trollope (Author)

Other Contributors:

1. John Sutherland (Introduction)

First Edition edit see section history

Classification edit see section history

• Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
• Dewey: 823.8

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Literature & Fiction › World Literature › British › Classics › Trollope, Anthony
• Books › Literature & Fiction › Authors, A-Z › ( T ) › Trollope, Anthony
• Books › Literature & Fiction › World Literature › British › 19th Century
• Books › Literature & Fiction › Genre Fiction › Historical
• Books › Literature & Fiction › Classics
• Books › Literature & Fiction › Classics
• Books › Literature & Fiction › Literary