The Warden by Anthony Trollope

 “Trollope’s purpose is to present the dilemma of the just man involved in an inequitable system, and in the process to illuminate whole areas of public and private life, rather than merely to expose a few corrupt individuals.” — David Skilton from his introduction to The Warden 

The Warden is a short novel written by English author Anthony Trollope. It was published in 1855. It’s the first novel in the Chronicles of Barsetshire series, set in the fictional county of Barsetshire and its cathedral town of Barchester. The novels follow the clergy and the various social classes of the county. 

The Rev. Septimus Harding is a sincere and conscientious clergyman who is also serving as a warden to Hiram’s Hospital. His duties include looking after twelve elderly laborers who can’t earn a living anymore. The hospital was established by John Hiram centuries ago and according to his will, the person running the hospital and up to twelve elderly laborers who cannot work anymore receive an income. Over the years the money the land generates has grown considerably. This allows Reverend Harding to receive an impressive income as well as to feed and pay a group of retired laborers living at the hospital. 

Enter John Boyd, a young surgeon, reformer and activist. Believing that the laborers are not receiving a fair amount of the money and that Rev. Harding is receiving too much money, he begins an investigation by contacting lawyers. Then he makes things public by contacting a reporter. 

Rev. Harding, who only wants to do his job, take care of the old men, and support his daughter, is suddenly enveloped in scandal. To complicate things further John Boyd is in love with Rev. Harding’s daughter, Eleanor. 

Although the situation is treated seriously and Rev. Harding struggles with his conscience, the story is also told with humor. It’s part comedy of manners and part satire. Everyone has a different solution and no one can even think of compromise. No one is perfect and no one is left untouched by satire: the clergy, the reformers, the lawyers, and the press. Some of my favorite passages were Trollope’s satire of the press. For a book written in 1855, those parts hold up remarkably well today. 

The novel was a slow burn at first but I was drawn in. Once everyone was introduced and the situation was set up I was interested in all the characters and their outcomes. 

Trollope has an interesting style. He breaks the fourth wall and refers to the reader often. His descriptions of people and places were clear and he made them come to life. I also liked the dialogue between characters, especially during the various confrontations. I can also now say that I’ve read the Latin phrase sanctum sanctorum in something besides a Dr. Strange comic book.

On the other hand there were some places where I thought the narration went on too long. Also things get wrapped up rather quickly in the last few chapters. The ending felt a little rushed.

The ending wasn’t what I expected but it did come across as realistic. There were no outright villains, just various people thinking they were right and that others were wrong, unwilling to compromise, not understanding or blind to how their actions would affect others, with the most vulnerable having the most to lose. Like Trollope’s commentary on the press, it feels very familiar when compared with current events. 

There’s a quiet scene toward the end that really spoke to me. Rev. Harding is in London to meet with a lawyer. Tired, overwhelmed, and unfamiliar with the city, he manages to find a quiet moment in a cigar divan, a coffee house for smokers. I love this quote:

“What on earth could be more luxurious than a sofa, a book, and a cup of coffee?”

In reading reviews about this series it sounds like Trollope’s writing develops in the later volumes, his presentation of moral dilemmas becomes more subtle, and that since the other volumes are longer they don’t have the problem of a rushed ending.  I’ll be visiting Barsetshire and the town of Barchester again.