tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post8500360556306809969..comments2024-02-29T02:54:19.767-05:00Comments on Babbling Books: The Warden - Anthony TrollopeBrian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-34423771748782823422014-02-23T16:26:13.327-05:002014-02-23T16:26:13.327-05:00Hi Maria - Trollope seems to do all sorts of extra...Hi Maria - Trollope seems to do all sorts of extra literary or should we call it meta - fictional things in his works. I just put up a post about some of them. The criticism is just one of them.<br /><br />As for the specific criticism, I am beginning to love appreciate Dickens more and more myself. I am also thinking that Trollope is a great underrated artist who may have been Dickens's equal as a result of his incredibly realistic characters.I almost see Trollope's criticism here as an argument among giants that I do feel very emotional about. There is certainly a lack of depth to Dickens's characters, that Trollope is commenting upon. Yet there is SOMETHING else about those characters that is difficult to articulate that perhaps Trollope misses.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-74376071959324724462014-02-23T14:52:29.972-05:002014-02-23T14:52:29.972-05:00I must admit that I have never read any of Trollop...I must admit that I have never read any of Trollope's works, although I've heard of him, of course.<br /><br />The plot of this novel is interesting indeed, with its interconnected themes of concern for the poor and criticism of extremes and dogmatic views. <br /><br />In spite of the above, I'm not at all happy about Trollope's thinly-veiled criticism of Dickens. I don't see why one novelist would criticize another, within the context of his/her own work. It not only seems rather petty, but also introduces literary criticism into a work of fiction, which, in my opinion, is a rather ridiculous mixing of literary genres. But perhaps this sort of thing was common in Trollope's day. I really need to go back and re-read those 19th-century British authors I'm familiar with, to see if they, too, included such comments in their own novels. Who knows? I might be very surprised....<br /><br />Anyway....I do want to read this novel, but I am already prejudiced against Mr. Trollope. "Mr. Sentiment", as he calls Dickens, enjoys a literary reputation that I believe is more far-reaching than Trollope's ever has been. After all, Dickens's characters are universally beloved. Can the same be said for Trollope's? I hardly think so. <br /><br />Well, sorry about the little rant....as you can see, I dearly love Dickens, and just think it was very petty of Trollope to criticize him like that. And now I'm wondering if jealousy could have been a motivating factor in this. Could it be that Trollope was actually JEALOUS of Dickens's popularity? Hmmm... If so, he had every reason to be!! Ha, ha!!<br /><br />Nevertheless, I will definitely give this book, as well as subsequent volumes in the Barsetshire series, a try!<br /><br />As usual, great commentary! Thanks for your thoughts!! : ) Maria Beharhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13635809880830316283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-34764938585193590432014-02-13T20:02:42.280-05:002014-02-13T20:02:42.280-05:00Hi Rachel - I did not know about the magazine. May...Hi Rachel - I did not know about the magazine. Maybe Trollope was taking a poke at what he perceived as something of a clique.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-81323929470413121622014-02-13T19:48:53.906-05:002014-02-13T19:48:53.906-05:00Thanks for your thoughtful review. I have never re...Thanks for your thoughtful review. I have never read anything by Trollope, but I'm sure I will at some point.<br /><br />It's interesting to me that several of Dickens' contemporaries have been compared, in style, to Dickens. And those that are compared, I find, tend to be people who wrote for his magazine. :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01974988315420539840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-61204917451677889392014-02-06T09:37:55.069-05:002014-02-06T09:37:55.069-05:00Hi Richard - i have actually now finished Barchest...Hi Richard - i have actually now finished Barchester Towers and will be blogging about it shortly. I feel strongly that Trollope is a major author in his own right even more so now.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-55530721796674167362014-02-06T09:36:17.742-05:002014-02-06T09:36:17.742-05:00Thnaks so much Tracy. Trollope's characters ar...Thnaks so much Tracy. Trollope's characters are truly filled with wonder and insight!Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-34946462833991299622014-02-06T09:25:34.681-05:002014-02-06T09:25:34.681-05:00Not having ever read Trollope partly because I use...Not having ever read Trollope partly because I used to fear that he was a watered down sort of Dickensian wannabe, it was fascinating to hear of his attack on Mr. Sentiment and that it seems to go on and on for quite some time. How interesting! Another reason to give Trollope a try at some point, I guess, although an unexpected one. :DRichardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01746599416342846897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-11838643456364075032014-02-06T08:09:13.852-05:002014-02-06T08:09:13.852-05:00Interesting as always. What a wonderful insight yo...Interesting as always. What a wonderful insight you give into this author and his characters.Felicity Grace Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17852843882007267665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-26879234449156590532014-02-04T22:42:31.334-05:002014-02-04T22:42:31.334-05:00Hi Caroline - Sorry about the spoilers.
I do thi...Hi Caroline - Sorry about the spoilers.<br /><br /> I do think that you will like this.<br /><br /> Trollop's POV is fascinating and I plan a post on it soon.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-83301192983780254232014-02-04T14:12:15.408-05:002014-02-04T14:12:15.408-05:00I had to skim your review because I've been me...I had to skim your review because I've been meaning to read Trollope for ages and that's exactly the novel I've got. I hope to het back to your review sooner raher than later. <br />Harding sounds like an interesting character and I'm interested in the various POVs. Carolinehttp://beautyisasleepingcat.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-45045700837777600742014-02-04T09:27:36.161-05:002014-02-04T09:27:36.161-05:00Thanks Delia. The thing is this is only the beginn...Thanks Delia. The thing is this is only the beginning of the story as it is only the first book in the series.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-38191205336101274782014-02-03T23:37:45.096-05:002014-02-03T23:37:45.096-05:00Great review, it seems like an interesting story. ...Great review, it seems like an interesting story. I haven't read Trollope but he's on my list.Delia (Postcards from Asia)http://www.wrongspelling.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-86646168300190934102014-02-03T22:53:39.248-05:002014-02-03T22:53:39.248-05:00Hi Naida - After the above quote was written I won...Hi Naida - After the above quote was written I wonder just how much advice that these two would have taken from each other!Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-43648874406142971712014-02-03T22:52:25.687-05:002014-02-03T22:52:25.687-05:00Hi Heidi - Great question. It is so complicated!
...Hi Heidi - Great question. It is so complicated!<br /><br />I have a plan of sorts. Basically read through history's well known and respected authors then I alternate with non fiction book.. Every third fiction book is supposed to be philosophy. Every third none fiction book should cover the American Revolutionary period. There are other rules. I almost never really actually follow these rules. I break them and vary them more often then not. However I often follow the general spirit of them. Sometimes one author will lead me to another. Sometimes I will read a recommended book. Sometimes I do not want to read a philosophy book. In the end I really love what I read.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-27081712276797716272014-02-03T19:34:04.284-05:002014-02-03T19:34:04.284-05:00Interesting that his work has been compared to Cha...Interesting that his work has been compared to Charles Dickens and that they were friends. I wonder if Dickens gave him writing advice or even vice versa.<br />Wonderfully thought out post as usual.The Bookwormhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10217390642323530030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-18057602409349229422014-02-03T11:38:04.733-05:002014-02-03T11:38:04.733-05:00This is off topic, but I'm wondering how you c...This is off topic, but I'm wondering how you choose your books. Is it on a whim or do you have a plan of sorts? You have a great selection. I've never read this author. Thanks for the introduction.Heidi’sbookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15647096496574605262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-33226096356328704402014-02-03T08:45:55.715-05:002014-02-03T08:45:55.715-05:00Hi Jane - Mr Harding is indeed one of the more unu...Hi Jane - Mr Harding is indeed one of the more unusual protagonists that we encounter in great literature.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-12901175507536710812014-02-02T21:25:12.033-05:002014-02-02T21:25:12.033-05:00>Trollope’s characters, though less entertainin...>Trollope’s characters, though less entertaining than those of Dickens, are also less absurd and generally more realistic.<br /><br />Yes!!! I have been slowly reading The Barset Novels, and really enjoyed The Warden when I read it a few years ago. Mr. Harding is a odd hero, but a hero nonetheless.<br /><br />Good review. As always, lots to chew on.JaneGShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11094501834387622997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-90893878289760160452014-02-02T21:23:24.362-05:002014-02-02T21:23:24.362-05:00Hi Nancy - i have so much of Trollope to get to! I...Hi Nancy - i have so much of Trollope to get to! It is amazing how beloved his books seem to be these days.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-82583415855865591742014-02-02T20:50:21.071-05:002014-02-02T20:50:21.071-05:00I have read a great deal of Trollope and always wi...I have read a great deal of Trollope and always with pleasure, including one of the "Irish" novels. You have made a good beginning. Barchester Towers (next book in the series) is probably better known, but it is more enjoyable if you read The Warden first.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07279278948727487308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-49520331029300187142014-02-02T18:15:54.158-05:002014-02-02T18:15:54.158-05:00Hi Tom - Time is indeed the great enemy we we raed...Hi Tom - Time is indeed the great enemy we we raeders. I am really liking forward to the remainder ofbthe series.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-64208019278237447242014-02-02T17:40:36.249-05:002014-02-02T17:40:36.249-05:00A very interesting review Brian. I love the Barc...A very interesting review Brian. I love the Barchester Novels, and you have a treat in the next one, which to my mind is the best - Barchester Chronicles. You make me want to read them all over again - but where would I get the time?Tom Cunliffehttp://www.acommonreader.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-87026034830514837552014-02-02T16:39:09.116-05:002014-02-02T16:39:09.116-05:00Hi Gut - I know that you are very partial to Troll...Hi Gut - I know that you are very partial to Trollope. I had heard about that website. I will check it out right now.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-48516425867954992332014-02-02T15:12:08.819-05:002014-02-02T15:12:08.819-05:00Much pleasure awaits! I have read many Trollope no...Much pleasure awaits! I have read many Trollope novels but because he was so prolific, there are many left. If you get a chance, check out the Uk Trollope Society page which subdivides the books into different categories. <br /><br />I think you're spot on about the various camps: extremes and moderation. Trollope shows the clashes between these two groups in other novels. He's a great favourite of mine. <br /><br />Guy Savagehttp://www.swiftlytiltingplanet.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-42515512867879922982014-02-02T12:04:40.159-05:002014-02-02T12:04:40.159-05:00Hi Stu - I think that that you will really like Tr...Hi Stu - I think that that you will really like Trollop. I am obsessed with reading series in order so that I would recommend this one before any of the other Chronicles of Barsetshire Towers Books.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.com