Barchester Towers by Anthony TrollopeQuite enjoyable and worth reading particularly for those of us employed by the Episcopal Church. How much the mores and values of a bygone age govern the plot development is striking: lack of candor or reticence e.g. about the content of Mr Slope's letter to Eleanor on everyone's part forces lengthening of events while people labor under misapprehensions. Clergy are portrayed as having few theological thoughts let alone any of merit. There are no theological discussions recorded and yet different churchmanship drives the actions of several characters. To the male narrator, women are either sirens or widows.
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"To the male narrator, women are either sirens or widows."
I didn't read it that way at all. I thought the central dramatic conflict was contained in the questions, "Who shall be the bishop?"--Mr. Slope or Mrs. Proudie. And we all know who eventually won that struggle.
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