Other editions of book The Warden

Excerpt from The WardenHave you ever read the novels Of Anthony Trollope? They precisely suit my taste, solid and substantial, writ ten on the strength of beef and through the inspiration of ale, and just as real as if some giant had hewn a great lump out of the earth and put it under a glass case, with all the inhabitants going about their daily business, and not suspecting that they were being made a Show Of. And these books are just as English as a beefsteak. It needs an English residence to make them thoroughly comprehensible; but still I think that human nature would give them success anywhere.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.comThis book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Exclusively from Audible The first of six in Trollope's series of the Chronicles of Barsetshire introducing the fictional cathedral town of Barchester and the characters of Septimus Harding, the Warden, and his son-in-law Archdeacon Grantly. The Warden concerns the moral dilemma of the conscientious Reverend Septimus Harding, who finds himself at the centre of a bitter conflict between defenders of Church privilege and the reformers of the mid-Victorian period. His daughter's suitor, John Bold, is a political radical and passionate reformer who launches a campaign against Harding's management of the financial affairs of the charity, thus shattering the atmosphere of the once tranquil town of Barchester. The scandal is not improved when Harding's indelicate son-in-law, Archdeacon Grantly, leaps to his defence. The audiobook is a charming social comedy and love story that portrays life in an English cathedral town whilst looking at the larger social and political issues. The Warden was Trollope's first literary success which paved the way for him to later leave his career as a Post Office Inspector and become a prolific and much-respected author of the Victorian era. He eventually published 47 novels, many of which are still popular and well-loved today due to their timeless quality and parallels with contemporary society. Narrator Biography Timothy West is prolific in film, television, theatre, and audiobooks. He has narrated a number of Anthony Trollope's classic audiobooks, including the six Chronicles of Barsetshire and The Pallisers series. He has also narrated volumes of Simon Schama's A History of Britain and John Mortimer's Rumpole on Trial. Timothy West's theatrical credits include King Lear, The Vote, Uncle Vanya, A Number, Quarter, and Coriolanus and his films include Ever After, Joan Of Arc, Endgame, Iris, and The Day of the Jackal. On television, Timothy has appeared in Broken Biscuits (BBC), Great Canal Journeys (across 3 Series), and the regular role of Stan Carter on EastEnders (BBC).

How is this book unique?Unabridged (100% Original content)Formatted for e-readerFont adjustments & biography includedIllustratedAbout The Warden By Anthony Trollope - IllustratedThe Warden is the first novel in Anthony Trollope's series known as the "Chronicles of Barsetshire", published in 1855. It was his fourth novel.The Warden concerns Mr Septimus Harding, the meek, elderly warden of Hiram's Hospital and precentor of Barchester Cathedral, in the fictional county of Barsetshire. Hiram's Hospital is an almshouse supported by a medieval charitable bequest to the Diocese of Barchester. The income maintains the almshouse itself, supports its twelve bedesmen, and, in addition, provides a comfortable abode and living for its warden. Mr Harding was appointed to this position through the patronage of his old friend the Bishop of Barchester, who is also the father of Archdeacon Grantly to whom Harding's older daughter, Susan, is married. The warden, who lives with his remaining child, an unmarried younger daughter Eleanor, performs his duties conscientiously. The story concerns the impact upon Harding and his circle when a zealous young reformer, John Bold, launches a campaign to expose the disparity in the apportionment of the charity's income between its object, the bedesmen, and its officer, Mr Harding. John Bold embarks on this campaign in a spirit of public duty despite his romantic involvement with Eleanor and previously cordial relations with Mr Harding. Bold starts a lawsuit and Mr Harding is advised by the indomitable Dr Grantly, his son-in-law, to stand his ground. Bold attempts to enlist the support of the press and engages the interest of The Jupiter (a newspaper representing The Times) whose editor, Tom Towers, pens editorials supporting reform of the charity, and presenting a portrait of Mr Harding as selfish and derelict in his conduct of his office. This image is taken up by commentators Dr Pessimist Anticant, and Mr Popular Sentiment, who have been seen as caricatures of Thomas Carlyle and Charles Dickens respectively.

The book centers on the character of Mr. Harding, a clergyman of great personal integrity, whose charitable income far exceeds the purpose for which it was intended. Young John Bold turns his reforming zeal to exposing what he considers to be an abuse of privilege, despite being in love with Mr. Harding's daughter Eleanor. The novel was highly topical as a case regarding the misapplication of church funds was the scandalous subject of contemporary debate. But Trollope uses this specific case to explore and illuminate the universal complexities of human motivation and social morality.

The Rev. Septimus Harding was, a few years since, a beneficed clergyman residing in the cathedral town of ––––; let us call it Barchester. Were we to name Wells or Salisbury, Exeter, Hereford, or Gloucester, it might be presumed that something personal was intended; and as this tale will refer mainly to the cathedral dignitaries of the town in question, we are anxious that no personality may be suspected. Let us presume that Barchester is a quiet town in the West of England, more remarkable for the beauty of its cathedral and the antiquity of its monuments than for any commercial prosperity; that the west end of Barchester is the cathedral close, and that the aristocracy of Barchester are the bishop, dean, and canons, with their respective wives and daughters.

"No novel of any distinguished merit dealing with politics appeared in England till Anthony Trollope took up the subject....It should seem that Trollope, having exploited the clergy with brilliant force in 'The Warden' and its successors, was the first author to apprehend clearly what might be made in fiction of the fortunes of a group of politicians, their leaders, underlings, and antagonists, seeking to hold or to seize the reins of power in England." The Atlantic Monthly "There is a delicacy in some of his best work which proves him an artist, not a photographer. In 'The Warden,' the character of Mr. Harding, the gentle and lovable old clergyman whose sense of honor will not permit him to retain his living after the suggestion has been made that the stipend attached to it is unjustly large, is drawn with a marvelously fine touch. Mr. Harding has been compared to Colonel Newcome; it is high praise, but the two are kin....One of Trollope's strongest claims to be ranked among the great novelists of his day has perhaps never been sufficiently considered. It is not the least of his merits that his women are as true to life as are his men....He was at no time impressed with the need of taking his women with painful seriousness, and we have no laborious studies of the subtle in feminity such as later writers have given us. His heroines are without exception concerned with the simple everyday themes of 'she would and she would not' and its variations, merging at times into the equally simple but less agreeable 'she would but he would not.' And in dealing with these affairs of the heart, 'the apostle of the commonplace,' as some contemptuous critic once dubbed Trollope, was preeminently successful. He has given us more and better pictures of the English girl in love than all his fellows together....The present generation readers has much to be grateful for in the restoration of Anthony Trollope. Forty novels, none of them poor and many admirable, are a treasure trove indeed....The novelists of tomorrow have much to gain by reading Anthony Trollope." -The Dial "An interesting and realistic story of la cathedral town. This is the first of a series of books dealing with the same place and people, and each book is simply a period taken arbitrarily from the history of the community. But the people and their troubles are so natural that most readers of 'The Warden' desire to finish the series." -The Massachusetts Agricultural College Extension Service "An excellent little story, and a signal instance of Trollope's habit of offering us the spectacle of character. A motive-more delicate, more slender, as well as more charming, could scarcely be conceived. It is simply the history of an old man's conscience....The subject of 'The Warden,' exactly viewed, is the opposition of the two natures of Archdeacon Grantley and Mr. Harding, and there is nothing finer in all Trollope than the vividness with which this opposition is presented....Some persons profess to regard 'The Warden' as the author's masterpiece." -The Century Illustrated Monthly