Thanks for the very fun and interesting thoughts. My number one reason to read The Warden- to move on to the rest of the books in the series! It’s chronologically first and relatively short for a Trollope novel so it gets mentioned and recommended more frequently. In short, it’s accessible. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy it on first reading but I felt more endeared to Harding and the gang when we crossed paths again in later novels.
I love Dickens (there’s a scene in Bleak House that I think about often), so it’s interesting to hear Trollope’s view of the man. I’m grateful that you picked this book! I absolutely love it, and find that it’s rewarding my patience with some of the arcane vocabulary. Looking forward to Monday.
“Both men share an abiding concern for England and the English soul, but where Dickens judges their health by the number of souls who possess all the virtues or none, Trollope offers the more provoking picture of what evils a decent man can inflict upon his neighbor if he pursues truth, or pity, or justice, or humility apart from its fellows.”
Thanks for the very fun and interesting thoughts. My number one reason to read The Warden- to move on to the rest of the books in the series! It’s chronologically first and relatively short for a Trollope novel so it gets mentioned and recommended more frequently. In short, it’s accessible. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy it on first reading but I felt more endeared to Harding and the gang when we crossed paths again in later novels.
Can someone point me to the reading schedule?
https://open.substack.com/pub/closereads/p/a-programming-update-for-the-holidays?r=1xpn3&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post
Well said, Sean.
It took me a little bit to get into this book but I am loving it now. Interesting to hear Dickens connection.
I love Dickens (there’s a scene in Bleak House that I think about often), so it’s interesting to hear Trollope’s view of the man. I’m grateful that you picked this book! I absolutely love it, and find that it’s rewarding my patience with some of the arcane vocabulary. Looking forward to Monday.
I needed this!! Been having a hard time getting into The Warden after the breeze that Summer Lightning was 😆
Great essay, Sean!
“Both men share an abiding concern for England and the English soul, but where Dickens judges their health by the number of souls who possess all the virtues or none, Trollope offers the more provoking picture of what evils a decent man can inflict upon his neighbor if he pursues truth, or pity, or justice, or humility apart from its fellows.”
Well said!