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ratings: ★★★★☆ (4.4/5)
Genre: Classic Literature, Fiction, Satire

Book Review:
Welcome to Barchester, a sleepy English cathedral town where the most exciting events are the ringing of bells and the changing of clergy. Or so it might seem. But beneath the peaceful surface, as Anthony Trollope's magnificent novel Barchester Towers reveals, there rages a battle of wills, ambition, and hypocrisy that is as dramatic as any war.

This is the second book in Trollope's beloved ''Chronicles of Barsetshire'' series, and it is widely considered his masterpiece. The story begins with a power vacuum. The old bishop has died, and a new one, the weak and timid Dr. Proudie, is appointed. But Dr. Proudie is a pawn. The real power is held by his terrifying wife, Mrs. Proudie, a woman of iron will and unwavering self-righteousness, and his scheming chaplain, the Reverend Obadiah Slope, a man of unctuous charm and ruthless ambition. Together, they are determined to reform the diocese and bend it to their will.

Opposing them are the old guard of Barchester, led by the proud and worldly Archdeacon Grantly and the gentle, saintly Mr. Harding, whose daughter, the young widow Eleanor Bold, finds herself at the center of the conflict. Mr. Slope, hoping to advance his position, sets his sights on Eleanor, much to her disgust. Meanwhile, other suitors appear, including the charming but penniless Mr. Stanhope, whose family has arrived from Italy, bringing with them their own brand of continental worldliness.

Barchester Towers is a novel of manners, a comedy of errors, and a brilliant satire of the Church of England. Trollope's characters are not simple caricatures; they are complex, flawed, and deeply human. We laugh at Mrs. Proudie's absurd pomposity, but we also recognize her formidable energy. We despise Mr. Slope's oily hypocrisy, but we also understand his ambition. And we root for the gentle Mr. Harding and the lovely Eleanor as they navigate this treacherous social landscape.

What makes the novel so enduring is Trollope's warm, ironic, and deeply humane voice. He loves his characters, even the foolish ones, and he invites us to share in his affectionate amusement at their follies. The prose is elegant and witty, the plot is perfectly paced, and the world of Barchester feels utterly real.

This Wordsworth Classics edition is especially valuable for its introduction by Joanna Trollope, a celebrated novelist in her own right and a descendant of Anthony Trollope. Her insightful essay provides a wonderful context for understanding the novel and its author.

Barchester Towers is a book to be savored. It is a perfect introduction to the joys of Victorian fiction, a novel that is by turns hilarious, touching, and wise. It is a masterpiece of English literature, and it deserves a place on every bookshelf. Highly recommended.