Rating:

“Money is worth thinking of, but it is not worth very much thought.”

Author: Anthony Trollope

In The Last Chronicle of Barset Anthony Trollope brings the Barsetshire Chronicles to a close with a stimulating scandal, an unexpected death, a forbidden romance, and a failed romance. What better way to close out a rousing Victorian drama?

This time, Barsetshire is consumed with the case of a supposedly stolen check. The proud but impoverished Reverend Josiah Crawley has cashed a note for 20 pounds to pay his butcher bill. He believes this money was given to him by his friend, Dean Arabin, but it turns out that the check is stolen. Now accusations are polluting the town. It has finally led to a full trial, and Crawley’s sanity is crumbling under the pressure of public opinion and immanent judgement. What if he stole the check? Even he isn’t sure where it came from and is ready to sacrifice himself for a crime he may not have committed.

The Reverand Josiah Crawley’s fall from grace has wide ranging impacts as everyone settles on an opinion and gets involved. Major Henry Grantly’s plans to marry the Reverand’s daughter are put on hold as he is torn between public opinion and true love. When his father, Archdeacon Grantly, threatens to exile him from the family (and excise him from the family fortune), the decision becomes even more mired between honor and affection, money and morality, fidelity and family.

The Grantly’s aren’t the only great family coming to a head over the Reverend’s check debacle; Mrs. Proudie is on the war path, and this time she might have gone too far, even for the Bishop. Perhaps it’s time he rose above his henpecked status – right as she takes everything from him.

Meanwhile, Johnny Eames thinks that if he can get to the bottom of the check issue and save Josiah Crawley, old-maid Lily Dale will finally accept his troth. But can Lily, with her perverse desire to stay single and wallow in self-pity, ever be lead away from her sanctimonious sacrifice?

Meanwhile, Trollope adds in a new cast and a side story involving a painter, the married woman he flirts with, and the subject of his scandalous painting, whom he actually loves.

Mr. Crawley before the magistrates.
Author Anthony TrollopeIllustrator George H. Thomas, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

A few other familiar faces make guest appearances throughout the Last Chronicle of Barset. We see Crosbie and Lily finally confront each other, we witness Mr. Harding’s old age and peaceful passing, we drop in on Doctor Throne and his outspoken wife, we see the Arabin’s moving along the side, unwitting catalysts in the drama, and we get to meet some comical side figures, including Johnny Eames irascible boss and some shady (and not so shady) lawyers and magistrates.

It’s a good way to end the series, an ultimately satisfying collective story that amplifies the inner weavings of a life lived among others, both succumbing to and thwarting society’s expectations and judgements, determing good from evil and what that really means, watching husbands and wives both love and hate one another, seeing the rise and fall of loves found and lost, and keeping that piano-forte, dining room drama on point. It’s mostly satisfying, with some stories garnering our hearts and imaginations more than others.

Now – the brand-new side story about the painting, the artist, his love, and the married woman who lives to flirt is ultimately a drag to the story. Six books in, we don’t care about new characters, and this side story, with its ups and downs, upset husbands and conniving friends, is ultimately unsuited to the rest of the drama. It just takes away from the stories we are invested in and distracts us from the ultimate questions: who really stole the money and will the answer be uncovered before multiple different lives are ruined in the supposed name of “honor.”

Author Anthony TrollopeIllustrator George H. Thomas, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

However, despite the side story that I ultimately found distracting (and more than a little tedious) the other stories tie together nicely, always keeping us focused on the drama and our characters’ internal wars between emotion and societal standing (and comfortable living). It’s a story that is still relevant to the modern world, despite the antique sheen, and one that also gets us quite invested. After all, you’ve got love and madness – all solicited by what seems like a fairly small check. Why the town couldn’t just let it go . . . well, you’ll have to read to find out how pride and honor and “rules” get in the way of empathy, compassion, and true honesty.

In the end, we get some ongoing stories tied up as well and see how everyone has ended up. After six books in, we have quite a huge list of characters whom we have come to love, and Mr. Harding’s death in particular is a good complete circle back to the first book. The Proudie situation also gets quite a shocking conclusion, and we get the usual bushel of weddings and crushed hopes. Sadly, the ultimately annoying Lily Dale, with her teenage fascination with self-inflicted pity, is still taking up page space, but we do get to see how the odious Crosbie ended up, so it’s worth the occasional dialogue with Lily that we have to force ourselves through.

In the end, this is a good conclusion to the series, which in and of itself was both fun and thoughtful in equal measure. After a little break from the sheer size of the thing, I think I’ll give Trollope’s Palliser novels a try. Recommended.

 

Barsetshire Books In Order:

 

– Frances Carden

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Frances Carden
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