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Framley Parsonage

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If you shy away from Victorian novels because you had to read A TALE OF TWO CITIES in high school, it is time to give these treasures another try. Admit it, you are a bit older now. So are these books by Dickens, Disraeli, Thackary, Austen, the Bronte sisters, and, yes, my personal favorite, the great man himself, Anthony Trollope.

Why read something that was written a century and a half ago? Because Trollope knew more about the human psyche than Freud and Jung put together, and wrote about it not with a clinician's jaundiced eye, but with incredible tenderness and love. And entertainingly, to boot!

If you have been reading the Jan Karon novels about life in a small North Carolina highlands town, as it revolves around an Episcopal priest named Father Tim and his colorful parishioners, well!--this is where it all began. A book version of finding the source of the Nile.

Trollope began what Karon has revised and restyled so engagingly. Trollope invented the "church and town" novel, with what have become known as his Bartchester Series of novels, all centering around the doings of a fictitious cathedral town and its outlying countryside.

Not the first in the series, (it is the fourth but perhaps the best), FRAMLEY PARSONAGE traces the faith, home and political lives of a number of intertwining families. Here you will find love, ambition, political maneuvering, gambling debts, pretension, humility, envy, forgiveness, hate, romance. If it sounds like a slice of modern life-it is. We and the Victorians are so much alike; the human condition does not change.

In this delightful mix of clerical, political and romantic intrigue, you will meet everyone from the alarmingly meddlesome bishop's wife, Mrs. Proudie, to the original dizzy blond, Griselda Grantly. All set in the green countryside and the bustling streets of London.

The story centers around the bright, popular pastor, Mark Robarts and his charming wife, but it is his sister, Lucy, who will capture your heart as perhaps the loveliest of heroines in any novel.

I hope you are intrigued enough to be convinced that there is more to Nineteenth Century British Literature than SILAS MARNER. Moreover, I hope you will read this and the other Trollope works. You may recall that in addition to being one of the most successful and acclaimed novelist of all times, Trollope was also a successful and acclaimed civil servant-his "day job" was with the British postal system-he invented the corner mailbox. His more than 40 novels and outstanding autobiography were written in his very disciplined "spare time" in which he produced a specific number of pages every morning before departing punctually for his office. Not only a genius of time management, Trollope was and is a guardian of the human heart.

What? You say you would rather start at the beginning of the Bartchester series? By all means! But if you do not, try FRAMLY PARSONAGE first. Dip your toe in there-for you cannot dip your toe into any of his books without emerging the better, having done so.

If you find this review helpful you might want to read some of my other reviews, including those on subjects ranging from biography to architecture, as well as religion and fiction.

Young clergyman Mark Robarts receives a choice parish, thanks to Lady Lufton, the mother of one of his university friends. However, Robarts, though newly and happily married, is not content to settle into the life of a country minister. Lured by a wealthy and worldly set of new acquaintances, he finds himself pushed into living beyond his means and, worse yet, being held legally responsible for another man's bad debts.

Meantime the young Lord Lufton has been smitten by the charms of Robarts' sister Lucy, much to the displeasure of his aristocratic mother. It take a great act of magnanimity on Lucy's part - helping the impoverished Crawley family during a crisis (the Crawleys are more prominent in "The Last Chronicle of Barset") - to finally convince Lady Lufton that Lucy is worthy of her son.

This beautifully written novel contrasts the simpler integrity, though sometimes snobbish values, of the old ways with the more meretriciously glamorous lives of a newer society. As usual, Trollope has produced a multitude of characters whose motives are completely credible, and his depiction of the different social groups provides a most vivid kaleidoscope of Victorian life and attitudes. As always, there is nothing outdated in Trollope's sure insight into human nature.

As a sixty-two year old professor of English literature and a compulsive reader, I have read many, many novels in my life, and most of Trollope's (for they are, indeed, habit-forming), but this one is perhaps my favorite. I have not read it since 1982, but when I open the cover and look at the fly-leaf, I feel the special delight that I felt when I first read it. Like Austen's Emma, it is one of those perfect books you should not miss.

About three-quarters of the way through "Framley Parsonage," the fourth in Anthony Trollope's remarkably entertaining Barchester Chronicles, two of the characters find themselves an unlikely couple, much to their surprise and mutual pleasure. And it suddenly occurred to me why I love this author's works as much as I do: it's the endless optimism. Yes, things always work out for the best in Austen and Dickens (for example), but in Trollope, when a character is caught off guard and overwhelmed by his/her emotions, so am I. The sense that unexpected, marvelous life changes are always a possibility, connects me to Trollope in a very strong way. Which is not to say that there's no edge to his writing, or no psychological complexity; far from it. In "Framley Parsonage," bad things happen to good people; but Trollope doesn't shy away from the idea that sometimes good people make bad choices...and must pay the consequences. In this way, Trollope's moral landscape seems to me more complex than Austen's and Dickens', less black and white. (Lizzie Eustace, the heroine of "The Eustace Diamonds" is a perfect example of this: she's an underhanded liar and thief, but we find ourselves rooting for her.)

Trollope introduces us to some new characters here, and brings back old ones, much to our delight; Mrs, Proudie is particularly welcome, in all her sanctimonious glory. If I have an objection to the plot of "Framley Parsonage," it's that the dilemma the lovers face too closely mirrors that of the ones in its immediate predecessor, "Doctor Thorne.". That said, my heart couldn't help but respond when the lovely Lucy Robarts suddenly found her dream of love coming true. I knew it was coming (even if she didn't), and yet the simplicity and honesty with which Trollope expressed her astonishment, disbelief and inexpressible joy brought tears to my eyes. Perhaps I'm just an old softie...but perhaps Trollope is just that good.

I'm reading the Barset series in order and have not been disappointed yet. Framley Parsonage is substantive, richer than The Warden, more serious than Barchester Towers, similar in much to Doctor Thorne, and slightly more intricate than DT. I enjoyed the introduction of a healthy dose of political gamesmanship in the form of descriptions of the parliamentary machinations and electioneering strategies. One also learns how to conduct financial shennanigans with horses, farmland, and public forests. The characters in FP are textured and almost always believable; there's only a few caricatures here. As always, the Everyman's edition is accompanied by a lucid introduction and helpful timetable.

Notice how every reviewer of this gem of a novel gives it five stars. Trollope, as these readers have each discovered, is perhaps the most under-appreciated of the 19th century master English novelists. He may not have DIckens' gift for memorable characters or the tragic sense of Thomas Hardy, but does he know human nature in all its complexity and folly.
Each of his characters, from the purest young girl to the most dissipated wastrel has that combination of strengths and weaknesses that we recognize (one hopes) in ourselves. Trollope condemns no one unreservedly, while never wholly approving. And he does this all with an ironic distance, yet with a warm sympathy for his characters that is unique in this reader's long experience with master novelists. Finally, this skilled observer of ordinary people tells his story with a gift for the language that is equal to the greatest writers in English. Do not die without spending some hours with this genial chronicler of 19th century humanity.

The fourth of the Chronicles of Barsetshire, Framley Parsonage (1861) is a gentle novel filled with memorable characters, including many characters from The Warden, Barchester Towers, and Doctor Thorne (Barsetshire Novels). Mark Robarts, a young vicar with a devoted wife, has a comfortable situation at Framley Parsonage on the estate of the indomitable Lady Lufton. Her son, now Lord Lufton, had been a friend of Mark Robarts at school, and it was their friendship which resulted in Mark's position. Mark, though conscientious in his duties and grateful for his situation, is ambitious, however, anxious to expand his horizons beyond Framley.

Lady Lufton, who rules with an iron hand, is appalled when Mark decides to spend a weekend with a "fast" crowd, one which he believes can advance his career. Young and naïve, he becomes the dupe of an aristocratic "con-man," an MP named Nathaniel Sowerby, who persuades him to help him out of a financial jam by signing a note for five hundred pounds (more than half Robarts's yearly salary), allowing Sowerby to draw funds on Robarts's name. In the meantime, Robarts's sister Lucy arrives at Framley Parsonage upon the death of their father. Lucy, a sweet ingénue in mourning, soon comes to the attention of Lord Lufton, but Lady Lufton has many more "significant" matrimonial prospects in mind for her son. As Robarts's financial miseries become more pressing, and as Lucy's disappointment in love increases, the scene is set for a final showdown.

Numerous peripheral characters, many of them known to readers of the series, add to the drama of the primary action. The implacable dowager Lady Lufton, wishing to maintain her family's social position, pushes Griselda Grantly, daughter of Archdeacon Grantly, as the Duke's suitor. The competition between the (Archdeacon) Grantlys and the (Bishop) Proudies for suitors for their daughters adds great comic relief to the story, and the internecine manipulations among the clergy provide gentle satire in a novel which seems to be remarkably domestic in its focus.

Trollope provides a full picture of Victorian life, representing many aspects of society, and though his view of the clergy has in earlier novels been a bit jaded, he is sympathetic to many of its representatives in this novel, seeing them as humans, rather than as types. A sweet novel, part love story and part social commentary, Framley Parsonage is charming, memorable for its characters and picture of Victorian England. Mary Whipple

Framley Parsonage is the fourth in Trollope's Barsetshire novels. Trollope (1815-1882) wrote the novel as a serial in the influential Cornhill magazine in 186-61, This novel along with the others in the series: The Warden; Dr. Thorne, The Small House at Allington, Barchester Towers and the Last Chronicle of Barset is a delightful return to mid-Victorian middle class society in a rural mythical county named Barsetshire.
In this long novel of over 600 pages there are several stories. The main character is the Rev. Mark Robarts, a
doctor's son, who at a young age becomes the vicar of Framley Parsonage. He has children and a kind wife Fanny. Mark has visions of grandeur in his head. He lends money to the unscrupulous Member of Parliament Mr. Sowerby. As a result of this fatuity Mark falls into debt. His friends rally to his aid.
Mark's sister Lucy Robarts is novel's heroine. She falls in love with the wealthy Lord Lufton who lives at Eustace Court with his formidable mother Lady Lufton. Lady Lufton wants her son Ludovic to wed Griselda Grantley the statuesque but dull as dishwater and cold as a cucumber daughter of Archdeacon Grantley. Lufton is torn between these two women. We see Lady Lufton overcome her prejudice against Lucy. Lucy is a kind girl who minister to the family of the poor clergyman Josiah Crawley. She wins over the heart of Lady Lufton and the reader.
Secondary plots concern the midlife romance of Miss Dunstable and good Doctor Thorne. Olivia Proudie daughter of the fussy busybody and scold Mrs. Proudie and the uxorious Bishop Proudie weds a clergyman Mr. Tickler who is a widower. Griselda Grantley is courted by the stupid Lord Dumbello who possesses a name and title to the Hartletop lands and fortune. Will she win Lord Lufton or choose Dumbello?
All's well that ends well in this classic Trollopian tale. Long before Jan Karon, Anthony Trollope wrote humorous, moving and plot driven tales of the lives of the clergy dealing with real life problems, romance and challenges. In my opinion, an Anthony Trollope novel is a good way to spend a quiet evening before the fireplace. Enjoy this wonderful author and the world he created.

Framley Parsonage has received nothing but four or five star reviews on Amazon for good reason - it is a great book. Unlike Dr. Thorne, its predecessor in The Chronicles of Barsetshire, which can be read as a stand-alone novel, Framley Parsonage is filled with characters from other books in this series, Dr. Thorne himself being one of them; it is possible to read it out of the context of the series, but much useful information informing the action of the story will be lost. That being said, I think even the reader new to The Chronicles of Barsetshire is going to love this book, as I did.

In Dr. Thorne the love of Mary Thorne for young Frank Gresham was the heart and soul of the novel; so to, in Framley Parsonage,the love of Lucy Robarts for Lord Lufton takes center stage. However, Trollope has enlarged the scope of this novel to include other important stories, such as the debt Lucy's brother Mark Robarts, vicar of Framley Parsonage, incurs when he signs his name to a bill of payment for 400 pounds for Mr. Sowerby, M.P., one of the villains of the novel. From the moment he signs the bill Mark does not know a minute of peace as he worries about what will happen to him when the note comes due.

A villain from an earlier Barsetshire novels surfaces in Framley Parsonage to aggravate and confuse key players in the story. I speak of the infamous Mrs. Proudie, the Bishop of Barchester's wife. It would be fair to say that Mrs. Proudie is the real Bishop of Barchester, for that is how she conducts herself. Whenever Mrs. Proudie takes center stage, the action heats up in a hurry, much to our delight.

Then there is Lady Lufton, the apparent enemy of Lucy Robarts. Lady Lufton considers Lucy "insignificant" and unsuitable to be the wife of her son Lord Lufton. She does everything in her power to prevent the match from taking place. The final scene between Lucy and Lady Lufton was moving and magnificent. Trollope was at his best as he dramatized the nobility of two good women who at last allowed their hearts to show them what was invisible to their eyes.

Framley Parsonage is the 12th novel of Anthony Trollope that I have read; I place it right at the top with other favorites, such as Phineas Redux, from the Palliser series of novels by Trollope. As I have said often, I consider Anthony Trollope to be one of the finest novelists in any language. He is a master story teller who allows his readers to step back in time and enter a world which seems as real to the reader as life itself - so real that the mind, heart, and soul of the reader are engaged. Trollope speaks to us directly and we talk back to him with thoughtfulness and satisfaction. He enriches our lives and we are grateful to him. Add this review to the long list praising Framley Parsonage.

I'm (slowly) making my way through Trollope's Barsetshire series - I find I have to be in the mood. I read somewhere that a contemporary of Trollope's said they hoped the serialized "Framley Parsonage" would never end, as they loved it because nothing ever happened! That's a bit harsh, but the novel really is about what I consider the timeless struggles and intimate details of life, relationships, property, and responsibility. The main character is country parson Mark Robarts, who has pretty much always had things handed to him by one patron or another; his head is turned by the desire to keep up socially (and financially) with the local aristocracy.

Along with the main plot of Robarts' struggle against temptation and eventual redemption, we meet Trollope's usual assortment of county families, aristocrats great and small, and clerical characters with their attendant charms and foibles. One of my favorite plot lines throughout this series is the ongoing, vicious (and rather un-Christian) social and political warfare waged by the rightly-named Mrs. Proudie and pretty much every other clerical wife or fond mama she runs across. The account of Mrs. Proudie's "conversazione" is priceless, and Miss Dunstable serves as a fine foil for her pompous piety and hypocrisy. Trollope manages to portray the flaws and humanity of his characters with insight and gentle yet sometimes sharp humor, but he's never snarky or malicious; that's why I love his novels and will continue to slowly but surely work my way through them.