Framley Parsonage (The Chronicles of Barsetshire Book Four) by Anthony Trollope

 

Framley Parsonage (The Chronicles of Barsetshire Book Four) by Anthony Trollope.

This edition published 13th November 2014 by Oxford Worlds Classics.

From the cover of the book:

The Reverend Mark Robarts makes a mistake. Drawn into a social set at odds with his clerical responsibilities, he guarantees the debts of an unscrupulous Member of Parliament. He stands to lose his reputation, and his family, future, and home are all in peril. 

His patroness, the proud and demanding Lady Lufton, is offended and the romantic hopes of Mark's sister Lucy, courted by Lady Lufton's son, are in jeopardy. 

Pride and ambition are set against love and integrity in a novel that has remained one of Trollope's most popular stories.

Set against ecclesiastical events in the Barchester diocese and informed by British political instability after the Crimean War, Trollope's fourth Barchester novel was his first major success. 

A compelling history of uncertain futures, Framley Parsonage is a vivid exploration of emotional and geographical displacement that grew out of Trollope's own experiences as he returned to England from Ireland in 1859.

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Back to Barsetshire we go, this time to the little parsonage at Framley, where the Reverend Mark Robarts lives with his wife Fanny and their two small children. The patronage of the widowed Lady Lufton, who resides on their doorstep at Framley Court, has been of great benefit to the Robarts' family, but she is very particular about her views on the suitable pursuits for a country clergyman and she does not like to be gainsaid.

Despite his fortunate position, Rev Robarts feels the stirring of ambition. Encouraged by his friend Lord Ludovic Lufton, the only son and heir of his patroness, Robarts is introduced to the movers and shakers of Barsetshire among the Chaldicote set, where the scoundrel Nathaniel Sowerby MP has his country seat. This is a crowd very much in the orbit of the notorious Duke of Omnium, and highly disapproved of by Lady Lufton, but Rev Robarts convinces himself that he can do some good by being friendly to them all - and after all, Bishop and Mrs Proudie are among this set too.

Sadly, Rev Robart's naivety makes him easy prey for devious folk like Mr Sowerby, and he soon finds himself drawn into a tangled web of lies and deceit by becoming a guarantor for part of Sowerby's considerable debts. It is a responsibility a country parson can ill afford, and in doing so he puts his reputation, his home, and his family in peril.

In the meantime, Lady Lufton's marital schemes for her son Ludovic are put in jeopardy by the arrival of Rev Robart's sister Lucy at the parsonage. All her carefully laid plans are in danger when Ludovic announces his intention to marry the penniless Lucy rather than the wife Lady Lufton has selected for him. Lady Lufton is determined that this will never come to pass...

Framley Parsonage is the fourth book in the Barsetshire Chronicles, and much like in the previous instalment, Doctor Thorne, this is a book that is ripe with themes of suitable marriages, status, money and politics. Unfortunately, Rev Robarts is no Dr Thorne, and his weak character makes him a very difficult protagonist to like. Time and time again he makes foolish decisions in this story, and I shook my head with frustration over his antics throughout. There is also a lot more politics in this book than any of the former volumes in the series, and although this may have raised more than a few knowing nods and wry smiles from Trollope's contemporary audience, I must admit to finding this all a bit tedious. However, it has to be said that there is a lot to be gained from Trollope's very insightful use of his male characters to examine masculine pride and ambition, and for that reason it is an intriguing morality tale, if a bit hard going.

What saves this novel for me is Trollope's glorious female cast. There are many familiar faces among these women, particularly the plucky Miss Dunstable who has a very heart warming story arc here; and our old adversaries Mrs Grantley and Mrs Proudie, whose conversational sparring is an absolute delight to witness (particularly when that odious Obadiah Snape gets a mention). There are some great new faces to add to the fun too, with Archdeacon and Mrs Grantley's daughter Griselda making an appearance as a love rival; and Lucy Robarts taking on an Elizabeth Bennet role with Lord Lufton as her Darcy - Lucy also has her share of vocal sword play with Lady Lufton, which is deliciously reminiscent of Lizzie Bennet's showdowns with Lady de Bourgh. The women in this story have all the best scenes and dialogue, and fortunately they are the characters who drive most of the second half of the story. I loved them!

I find it interesting that this was Trollope's first major success, because it is certainly not one of my favourites, but it is well worth reading for the firebrand females that carry the novel - and am looking forward to seeing where the story goes next in book five, The Small House at Allington, which I will be reading next month. 

Framley Parsonage is available to buy now in multiple formats.

About the author:

Anthony Trollope (1815-82) became one of the most successful, prolific and respected English novelists of the Victorian era. Some of Trollope's best-loved works revolve around the imaginary county of Barsetshire, but he also wrote penetrating novels on political, social, and gender issues and conflicts of his day.