I feel like I should have more to say about The Warden by Anthony Trollope. When I read The American Senator earlier this year, I was stupidly ecstatic the entire time, delighted by every character, amused by every turn of phrase. I had been warned that The Warden, the first of Trollope’s six Barsetshire novels, was the least impressive of the lot. Well, I didn’t adore it but I did enjoy it. If this entertaining, amusing, affectionate novel is the least impressive of the series, I am very excited to read on.
The book is concerned with the trials of one Septimus Harding, a respected, well-liked clergyman in the cathedral town of Barchester, who is also the warden of Hiram’s Hospital, an alms-house for a dozen aged and infirm local men. Mr Bold, an earnest young reformer, is convinced that the hospital funds are being unfairly allocated and that the warden’s income of £800 is overcompensation for the minimal duties he is expected to perform. Poor Mr Harding, who had never questioned his income before, had in fact used his personal funds to increase the allowance given to the hospital’s residents, is placed at the center of the controversy and the book focuses on his struggle to decide his opinion on the matter. His claim to the money is supported by the clerical community, most especially by the forceful archdeacon Dr Grantly, the son of the Bishop and the husband of Mr Harding’s eldest daughter, while John Bold, having brought the issue to public attention, is clearly of the opposing faction, though he counts Mr. Harding as one of his dearest friends and is in love with Harding’s youngest daughter Eleanor. A fine mess, indeed, though from the start there are clearly so many satisfactory outcomes available that there is no real sense of tension.
What I particularly loved about The Warden were Trollope’s descriptive passages. Most of these were mere tangents to the main plot, with Trollope poking fun at newspaper men, politicians, clergymen, lovers, spouses…really anyone and everyone who could possibly be woven into the story however remotely, but they had me giggling away throughout the book. It is these passages that allow the observant, witty narrator to establish himself as the most entertaining character of all. Trollope is particularly excellent when introducing new characters: the introduction of the Grantly sons, and the narrator’s blunt remarks on their virtues and failings, seemed to be unnecessarily lengthy and yet, for me, it was one of the most entertaining parts of the book. Much time is devoted to studying each character, however insignificant, and none is without his or her virtues but they all have some human foibles, as befits the cast of a comedy.
But of all the excellent characters here, one stands out as being particularly well-suited to comedy. The archdeacon Dr. Theophilus Grantly is wonderful. So rigid, so decisive, his happily bullies Mr. Harding along, confident that the law, morality, and God are on their side and he joyously sets forth, eager to smite those who would question the church’s internal accounting:
He was about to defend the holy of holies from the touch of the profane; to guard the citadel of his church from the most rampant of its enemies; to put on his good armour in the best of fights; and secure, if possible, the comforts of his creed for coming generations of ecclesiastical dignitaries. Such a work required no ordinary vigour; and the archdeacon was, therefore, extraordinarily vigorous. It demanded a buoyant courage, and a heart happy in its toil; and the archdeacon’s heart was happy, and his courage was buoyant.
Honestly, the plot of The Warden is not terribly well formed. Even as the scandal is escalating, it was difficult to feel much concern when the narrator clearly didn’t, happily contenting himself with making amusing remarks about all the actors involved and the complications of their home lives. But it is these amusing asides and these excellent, flawed, essentially good characters that make the novel so entertaining and which make me so excited to read on. I already have my copy of Barchester Towers pulled out, ready to commence reading as soon as I begin my Christmas holidays at the end of this week.
The Captive Reader 
I think you’ll enjoy Barchester Towers even more than The Warden. I know I loved both but liked the fact that the second book is longer and more meaty. Hoping to read more Trollope next year.
I’m certain I’ll enjoy Barchester Towers even more, too! Longer and meatier – how could I not?
I am so glad that you enjoyed it! The Warden is definitely a slight book, and an incredibly short one for Trollope, but it introduces so many characters, and the city of Barchester itself. The edition I first read combined both The Warden and Barchester Towers, so I went straight on to the second, and The Warden did feel like a bit of prologue. But as you so rightfully say, there is much to enjoy, in the tangents, in Trollope’s narrative voice, and in my favorite character, Mr. Harding. If you love Dr. Grantly’s battles, then you have much to look forward to 🙂
The Warden definitely does feel like an introduction, with so many characters introduced in such detail and then seen but briefly, so I am definitely looking forward to being reunited with them in Barchester Towers and getting to delve into more story. And, of course, I can’t wait to see more of Dr. Grantly in the future!
I have read The Warden recently too. It was my introduction to Anthony Trollope and I thought it was delightful. I hope to begin Barchester Towers over the holiday season as well.
Isn’t it wonderful, just starting to read Trollope and knowing how many, many books await us? Thank goodness for entertaining and prolific authors!
There certainly has been a lot of Trollope around lately and I’m completely out of the loop. The good thing about that though is that I’ll have him to discover when I feel the need to turn to someone new. In the meantime, I’ll enjoy reading your thoughts, Claire.
There have been lots of Trollope mentions lately, haven’t there? I was starting to wonder if they had always been there but I had just been oblivious, but no. I’ll look forward to the day when you start reading Trollope, Darlene, whenever that may be!
I read the Warden earlier this year and have Barchester Towers waiting for me on the shelf. I’m considering doing a “Trollope month” at some point to get through this series and some others I have. (As always, I lament “so many books, so little time! 😉 ) I also watched the BBC adaptations around the same time. A young Alan Rickman played Obadiah Slope and Geraldine McEwan was Mrs. Proudie. It was a TV miniseries, so not “cinematically” done (if that is even a word). Enjoyable nonetheless.
Ooo, a Trollope month, what a tempting idea! I remember seeing bits of the television adapations when I was young but I’ve forgotten everything except how young Alan Rickman looked!
How wonderful to be at the beginning of a Trollope affair. I wrote a blog post last year about my long relationship with Trollope and now, reading your post, I’m prompted to do some more rereading.
I’ve also just reread Margaret Oliphant’s ‘Salem Chapel’. A little later than Trollope’s ‘Barchester Towers’ series, Margaret Oliphant wrote a similar series with a clerical theme – but focusing on the Dissenting communities rather than the ‘Established’ church. A really interesting alternative viewpoint.
Thanks for your post.
I’ve only had one encounter with Mrs Oliphant so far and it did not go well. Nonetheless, I’m determined to give her at least one more chance and will put Salem Chapel on the list of contenders!
I haven’t read any of his works but you make me curious about him. Sounds like you really loved The American Senator. I hope you enjoy the next one!
Yes, I loved, loved, loved The American Senator and can’t wait to read more Trollope in 2012!
Oh, I do need to read more Trollope! I’ve had Dr. Thorne waiting for a year, since I finished Barchester! I agree, The Warden is really sort of a prequel. It took time for me to get into it but I did enjoy it. I was particularly amused by his description of the writer, Mr. Popular Sentiment — aka Dickens!!
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