The Small House at Allington

Well, that went places I didn't expect. Nothing much happens in this novel - it is more character studies. But id did not end as I expected - kudos to Trollope for that. I don't know why these novels work for me but they do. ( )

The penultimate novel in Trollope’s Barsetshire series, this novel primarily concerns the Dale family:, although it also introduces us to Plantagenet Pallister, the heir to the mighty Duke of Omnium and to hi soon-to-be-wife, Lady Glencora, who will be the main characters in Trollope’s multi-volume political novels.

In this book, the widowed Mrs. Dale and her two daughters Bele & Lily, live in the house of the title rent free as a gift of Mrs. Dale’s much wealthier brother-in-law, the Squire. Bell is being pursued by the squire’s nephew, Bernard (romances of first cousins seemingly very common in these novels) and Lily is worshiped from afar by John Eames, who is seeking his fortune in London.

At the beginning of the novel, Bernard arrives for a visit t his uncle with his friend, Adolphus Crosbie. Crosbie is handsome and charming and soon makes an attachment to Lily. However, upon learning that she will have no dowery from her uncle, the squire, he goes for a visit to the De Cousey family in Barsetshire where the Countess de Courcy views him as fair game and a viable match for her only single daughter still of marriageable age, Alexandrina, and he ends up jilting Lily for what he perceives as greener pastures with an Earl’s daughter.

Lily is heartbroken, but feels that as she still loves Crosbie, she must refuse the much more honorable Mr. Eames and remain true to the lover who has spurned her. Bell also resists the entreaties of Bernard and finds true happiness with the local doctor.

As always, Trollope know the society that he is writing about and the book is full of insights into life in Victorian England as well as subtle humor to the many foibles of his characters. This book is a doorstop, but well worth your time. ( )

I think I liked this book the least of the series. For one thing, Allington isn’t even in Barsetshire, and so most of the colorful characters from the previous novels don’t reappear, except for the members of the de Courcy family. I was also frustrated trying to figure out Mr. Crosbie’s motives – both for making and breaking the engagement. I also think it's safe to say that "friend-zoning" is nothing new.

At least to me, these characters seemed the least like real people in the entire series so far, and the ending just didn’t really seem satisfying in any sense. I stuck with the book primarily because I wanted to be able to follow the next novel in the series, which Trollope regarded as one of his best works. Plus, there are six books in the series and this is the fifth, so at this point giving up on the series really wouldn’t make a lot of sense – and the book wasn’t that bad.

And there were good parts as well. As usual, Trollope was right on the money when it came to describing our views of beauty, substance, and celebrity when he described Lady Dumbello as, “given to smile when addressed, but her usual smile was meaningless, almost leaden, and never in any degree flattering to the person to whom it was accorded” and as contributing “nothing to society but her cold, hard beauty, her gait, and her dress” but adding that “we may say that she contributed enough, for society acknowledged itself to be deeply indebted to her.” Ouch.

Other redeeming factors:

Mr. Crosbie’s brief encounter and conversation with Mr. Harding in Barchester

Plantagenet Palliser and Lady Glencora (of the Palliser series, also by Trollope) are introduced

Another name for the win: Major Fiasco

Trollopian style

Good quotes:

“It is sometimes easier to life a couple of hundredweights than to raise a few thoughts in one’s mind…”

“…but now, even already, although the possession to which he had looked was not yet garnered, he was beginning to tell himself that the thing was not worth possessing.”

“Alexandrina of course carried her point, the countess reflecting with a maternal devotion equal almost to that of the pelican, that the earl could not do more than kill her.”

“Oh, deliver us from the poverty of those who, with small means, affect a show of wealth! There is no whitening equal to that of sepulchers whited as they are whited!”

“To have loved truly, even though you shall have loved in vain, will be a consolation when you are as old as I am. It is something to have had a heart.” ( )

I think I liked this book the least of the series. For one thing, Allington isn’t even in Barsetshire, and so most of the colorful characters from the previous novels don’t reappear, except for the members of the de Courcy family. I was also frustrated trying to figure out Mr. Crosbie’s motives – both for making and breaking the engagement. I also think it's safe to say that "friend-zoning" is nothing new.

At least to me, these characters seemed the least like real people in the entire series so far, and the ending just didn’t really seem satisfying in any sense. I stuck with the book primarily because I wanted to be able to follow the next novel in the series, which Trollope regarded as one of his best works. Plus, there are six books in the series and this is the fifth, so at this point giving up on the series really wouldn’t make a lot of sense – and the book wasn’t that bad.

And there were good parts as well. As usual, Trollope was right on the money when it came to describing our views of beauty, substance, and celebrity when he described Lady Dumbello as, “given to smile when addressed, but her usual smile was meaningless, almost leaden, and never in any degree flattering to the person to whom it was accorded” and as contributing “nothing to society but her cold, hard beauty, her gait, and her dress” but adding that “we may say that she contributed enough, for society acknowledged itself to be deeply indebted to her.” Ouch.

Other redeeming factors:

Mr. Crosbie’s brief encounter and conversation with Mr. Harding in Barchester

Plantagenet Palliser and Lady Glencora (of the Palliser series, also by Trollope) are introduced

Another name for the win: Major Fiasco

Trollopian style

Good quotes:

“It is sometimes easier to life a couple of hundredweights than to raise a few thoughts in one’s mind…”

“…but now, even already, although the possession to which he had looked was not yet garnered, he was beginning to tell himself that the thing was not worth possessing.”

“Alexandrina of course carried her point, the countess reflecting with a maternal devotion equal almost to that of the pelican, that the earl could not do more than kill her.”

“Oh, deliver us from the poverty of those who, with small means, affect a show of wealth! There is no whitening equal to that of sepulchers whited as they are whited!”

“To have loved truly, even though you shall have loved in vain, will be a consolation when you are as old as I am. It is something to have had a heart.” ( )

A long novel but enjoyable every minute. David Shaw-Parker is an extraordinary narrator. I was sorry that the book came to an end. Looking forward to my next Trollope. ( )