Trollope, Anthony. The Warden. New York: Book League of America, 1956.
Reason read: Anthony Trollope’s birth month is April. Read in his honor.
Reverend Septimus Harding, at fifty years old, became Precentor of the Cathedral as well as the Warden of Hiram’s Hospital. Because of his dual employment he makes a significantly higher wage than others. This
inequality of salary is a modern conflict and no one is more bothered by this than John Bold. But Mr. bold has a conflict of interest. While he is against Mr. Harding’s significant salary and starts a petition to challenge it, he is also attracted and betrothed to Harding’s twenty four year old daughter, Eleanor. When he realizes the heartache he has caused the Harding family he tries to retract his complaint..but of course it is too late. The wheels of justice have been set in motion. The lesson for John Bold is you made your bed, now you have to lie in it.
The lesson for the Warden is one of morality. Eventually, the suit is abandoned but Harding is still wracked with guilt. He resigns despite everyone’s urging to reconsider.
Line that still holds true today, “What on earth could be more luxurious than a sofa, a book, and a cup of coffee?”
Author fact: Trollope designed his Barsetshire series to be read as modern novels.
Book trivia: the entire Barsetshire series was made into a popular television show.
Nancy said: Pearl’s “favorite Trollope novels are the whole Barsetshire sereis
BookLust Twist: from More Book Lust in the chapter called “Barsetshire and Beyond” (p 15).
~*LunaSea*~ 