Finished The Warden

I have finished The Warden, and I do feel like I read something of merit that was also entertaining and interesting. I espcially enjoyed the character of Harding, the warden of the title. He worries and obsesses and over thinks things, and I feel a kinship with him. I feel that I also tend to worry and nitpick, even after I have made a decision.

The other aspect of this novel that I felt resonates today is Trollope's scathing indictment of the press and its power. I find it interesting that almost 200 years after this novel was written, the press is still criticized and demonized for its pursuit of readership by using sensationalism and scandal-mongering. The newspaper of Trollope's novel, The Jupiter, relentlessly pursues what it views as corruption in the church. Trollope is very careful to subtly acknowledge that this corruption is very likely occurring. But he also makes sure that we know that Harding is the one character who is tortured by the the thought that his office is the beneficiary of church corruption. Ironically, The Jupiter succeeds in only getting rid of the one truly benevolent church officer in the novel, the warden Harding.

I had intended to continue with the Barchester novels, but I picked up my copy of Fagles' translation of the Iliad and got embroiled. I have read excerpts only of the Iliad, I thought I would try to read the whole thing. I had read mostly from Fitzgerald's translations in college. Fagles' translation came out 10-15 years ago, and was a sensation when it came out. I have read reviews of his translation that just sing its praises to high heaven, so I hope it lives up to its reviews. Fagles recently published his translation of The Aeneid and Nick gave me a copy for my birthday, which was nice as I had been reading Fitzgerald's translation of it. My copy of Fagles' Iliad is a used paperback - untouched - from www.shopgoodwill.com. I also bought his translation of The Odyssey at the same time.

When I read ancient literature, I feel strangely connected to all literature, new and old. The ancient stories are stories we still tell each other in our novels and poems. We think we have advanced and that these ancient people were primitive and crude, but we are these people. The graphic violence of today's films and books is right there in the Aeneid, beheadings, blood and gore, it's all there. And the crude humor of Apuleius in The Golden Ass is still laughed at today, although it may be Jim Carrey we're laughing at on the movie screen. I guess my point is that when I read ancient literature, I am constantly surprised by how familiar it feels.

Still reading Cryptonomicon. Only about 400 pages to go!

The Warden

I am now officially reading The Warden, the first of the Barchester novels. Finally! It is, so far, as I remembered it. Trollope creates a fully realized town in Barchester, and fully drawn characters. Readers of Jane Austen will feel a familiarity with Trollope, I think.

The criticism in the introduction of The Warden identifies Trollope's comments as the narrator as the only jarring notes in the novel. Occasionally, Trollope self-consciously comments on the action, remarking that such things only happen in novels. I agree with the critic in that it can be a bit jarring, however, it does not bother me. The only thing that bothers me on this reading is Trollope's name choices for his characters - Haphazard for the lawyer is one. It's a very old fashioned choice that reminds me of Pilgrim's Progress. I think it was unneccessary, too. Trollope's characters are so honest and real that the reader doesn't need Trollope's signposting in the form of character names.

Another book I read this week was The Children of Green Knowe by L. M. Boston. It's a children's book, a blend of fantasy and imagination that leaves you enchanted. I saw the book at the local library and was intrigued. I couldn't get my 9 year old interested in the book, so I checked it out myself. I'm so glad I did. Now I have the delightful prospect ahead of 5 (I think) more books to read in the series. The story is about a young boy who goes to stay with his great-grandmother in her ancient country home. As he comes to know the house and his great grandmother, strange things start to happen. He hears children, who turn out to be his ancestors who once lived in the house. Are they ghosts? or his fantasy? And then he learns that his great grandmother is aware of them as well. She tells him stories about the three ghost children, wonderful tales that sweep him up into their world.

I found a website for the author Lucy Boston's home, http://www.greenknowe.co.uk/index.html. There are some lovely photos of the home that was the basis for the home in the Green Knowe stories.

I am also still reading a few pages of Cryptonomicon here and there.

Taking steps toward Trollope

I actually took The Warden out of its slipcase and put a book sock on it, and it is sitting on my bedside table. I have started to read the introduction, too. Wow. I didn't think it was going to happen, so maybe this blog is good for something.

I've been studying the map of Barsetshire, too. The US Trollope society has a good map online, here:

http://www.trollopeusa.org/tsociety/map.html

Still reading Cryptonomicon. I think I'll be reading it for quite a while.

starting trollope

So, the question is, am I reading Trollope, or am I a reading trollop? I read The Warden years ago, I have read Phineas Finn, Phineas Redux, and I have decided to read all of Trollope. But is this just a Tristam Shandy kind of thing? I have researched Trollope, tried to figure the best way to read the canon, and honestly, I can't figure it out. It would be much easier to read Jane Austen again.

This whole Trollope idea has grown ever since my husband bought me the entire Folio set of Anthony Trollope's novels. How can you not read these beautiful, gorgeous books? And yet I have not. This year I have resolved to remedy that.

Here is my resolution for posterity. Or whatever that is in our culture.

love,

pam