First of all, I will start by recommending this book. This is the 4th book in a series that I’ve enjoyed thoroughly thus far.The first three books are:* The Warden*Barchesters Towers* Doctor ThorneI think you could probably read the books out of order, I don’t know that I recommend it. Miss Dunstable, for example and Dr. Thorne, carry over from Doctor Thorne. And the Grantlys show up in The Warden and Barchester Towers. Plus, I’m obsessive about reading in order. It’s almost as impossible for me to recommend a series out of order as it is for me to recommend an abridged book.And as far as classical novels go, I highly recommend Barchester Towers and Dr. Thorne. The Warden was pretty all right too, and it sets up Barchester Towers so well. Trollope with Gaskell and the Brontes approach my love of Jane Austen. And that, my friends, is saying something.As far as Framley Parsonage goes, it doesn’t have the same utter appeal of Barchester Towers with the fight between who would control the bishopric and the charm of the lovely, rich widow. Mark Robarts stresses me out with his bad choices. Miss Dunstable is as charming as ever. But, I do take issue with the proposed ***spoiler*** Lufton / Grantly alliance. Mostly because Mrs. Grantly lets her daughter live with the Luftons in order to throw the girl and the boy together. I’m too controlling for that. The hap pines of her daughter is very dependent, in those days, on her marriage. I don’t think I have the lack of control to trust someone else with the happiness and future of my daughter. That doesn’t tell you anything about the book and too much about me.And yet, though her mother has two fish on her line, she isn’t there to see how Lufton isn’t really interested; she isn’t there to ensure her daughter is happy; I would like to believe that she isn’t there for her daughter to convey her concerns too, though I’m not sure that Miss Grantly has that in her–flat and porcelain doll-ish as she is. Miss Grantly is about as interesting as plain oatmeal. But daughters still need their mothers. Right? Right?!The hero of this book, or the heroine, is Mrs. Robarts. Not because she has any huge role. She doesn’t. But because I just like her so much. I like how she kneels before Mark as he confesses all, and she supports him and loves him, and secures a path for them with him even though he has been so ineffably stupid. She doesn’t do it out of her role as his wife; she doesn’t berate him; she just…loves him. It’s beautiful.But here’s the thing…as with every other Trollope novel…the first third of the book is interesting. The second third of the book starts to bring out emotion, for example you get mad at Mark Robarts. But the last third…that’s the one that gets you. It brings the anxiety to your throat. When people get their comeuppance, you rejoice. When happy endings happen, you rejoice. It’s possible there are giggles, there are fists raised in the air, there are even…cackles.So, Trollope, buddy–you’ve sold me again. And I’ve moved the last two books in this series up on my list.
So, I am seriously at a loss to express just how much I enjoyed this book. I am beginning to have a serious "thing" for Mr. Trollope. The very beginning was actually very slow and I had some doubts. I didn't feel the story really got going until about page 80 or so. The other drawback was the heavy political vein running through it. The problem with that problem is that I have no experience with British parliamentary process past or present, and don't really get it. I am sure it was highly amusing and/or edifying for the intended audience of the time. Be that as it may, WOW. How can a book that actually seems fairly predictable still completely thrill the reader (and even get the reader to evince some stress about the outcome) when, like I said, you pretty much know what will happen in the end (just read the chapter headings!). The character's characters are completely fresh. At the outset one thinks some Victorian stereotypes will be had--NOT SO! I think every character surprised me. I so love Trollope's sense of humanity and that every person has many sides. Great points: * Absolutely fantastic husband and wife relationship--perfect example of what a loving wife should be when her husband has made a big mistake and asks forgiveness. * Smashing love stories (all of them, including the married parties--and particularly one (not the main one, either!)--but I won't give it away). * Great mother/son relationship* Great friendship between women relationship* Very gratifying and even touching themes of repentence, redemption, forgiveness, humility, pride, charity...* Surprising insight into women characters by a White, Male Victorian--sure he's give us the first "dumb blonde" (not my words, from the intro) but the others are real, intelligent, well-rounded and fantastically drawn women. I have also to say this about Trollope's women. He never dwells on their outward charms much--he could truly write a woman's soul. It makes me wonder about the women in his life.I don't have time to put in any quotes, but I hope I leave you with the impression that this series is incredible and SO worth spending time with. Can't wait to get on to the next one, and I will truly be sorry to say goodbye to Barchester.
What do You think about Framley Parsonage (2006)?
One can seldom go wrong by taking a Trollope novel on holiday. His style, his wit, and his psychological perceptiveness always delight and allow one to pick up the book in odd moments and be instantly transported. This novel, like several of his others and like the novels of Dickens – in comparison with whom I find Trollope to be gentler and less socially biting, or at least more subtly so – was serialized in monthly publications of the time, and each chapter is thus rather self-contained. Trollope is able skillfully to weave several subplots that are distinct although related, and chapters jump from one to another. He is not averse to interjecting editorial comments and paragraphs, all enhancing the ambiance of his times. Unlike Dickens and George Eliot, he writes about his contemporary society and its foibles rather than digging into the recent past. I find him particularly incisive in his understanding of late 19th-century British politics, a politics that is uncannily like our own in its stridency, pettiness, and venality; indeed, if historical details were hidden, there would be little that is unrecognizable today. In his novels, Trollope exploits issues of class and gender, issues that were under increasing question and pressure in his day, and his observations vividly portray the cusp of change that his society was experiencing. Thus, reading his work is not only a relaxing and delightful experience in itself, but it also provides a perceptive view into his life and times.
—Bruce
Framley Parsonage is not the continuation of the story of Doctor Thorne the way that Barchester Towers was of The Warden, but they have a good deal in common more than characters and setting.Mark Robarts is a clergyman, not yet thirty, who has benefited from the patronage of his friend's mother, Lady Lufton. She chose him a devoted and capable wife and granted him the comfortable living of Framley at £800 a year. He lives perhaps too respectably, with a large household and a pony-chaise - things on the edge of propriety for a gentlemen of his standing and only just within his means. He has ambitions to move into even higher circles, even at the expense of his patroness' good opinion. With good intentions, he naively signs a note for dissolute politician Mr. Sowersby. The debt falls on Mark and he has to deal with the consequences towards not only his reputation but the happiness and security of his family. This conflict (view spoiler)[Mark's refusal to so anything at all about it (hide spoiler)]
—Myles
My literary education is mostly a haphazard, scattershot mess, so my prior knowledge of Anthony Trollope was limited to the fact that he was an extremely prolific Victorian author. I was not disappointed by Framley Parsonage, and I found it a steady, gentle read. I really enjoyed the tone, and the humor was quite often just perfect: soft at times and sharp at others, it was always character-driven humor. The characters were memorable and sympathetic; even when I found myself crying out, "Mark, you fool!", I could still, almost painfully, understand why he did what he did. Trollope's got a good hand at demonstrating multi-faceted humanity, so that these characters can still feel so real, so many years later. No one's perfect or depicted in completely rosy-tinged terms, but no one's evil, and even the worst-behaving of the characters were complicated people. I did get bored during long stretches of politics talk and during some of the many, many classical references, but the narrative would always switch back to something more interesting in due time. My very favorite element of the book, probably unshockingly, was the relationship between Lord Lufton and Lucy Robarts, but I loved so many of the characters, particularly the female characters. Lucy! Lady Lufton! Miss Dunstable! Fanny! Mrs Proudie, my goodness. I even loved Griselda, seriously!
—Megan
