The Warden (Oxford World's Classics)

Rating:
Summary: Social satire for anglophiles
Review: I got this initially just to have the background for Barchester Towers (it wasn't necessary; BT can stand alone) but it made a Trollope fan of me. Now I'm working my way through the whole Barchester series, enjoying the language and dry wit. It probably helps to be an Anglican/Episcopal so the vocabulary of the English church is not so unfamiliar, but once past that Trollope draws some great characters, who with some minor modifications would transcend time and place.

Rating:
Summary: Social satire for anglophiles
Review: I got this initially just to have the background for Barchester Towers (it wasn't necessary; BT can stand alone) but it made a Trollope fan of me. Now I'm working my way through the whole Barchester series, enjoying the language and dry wit. It probably helps to be an Anglican/Episcopal so the vocabulary of the English church is not so unfamiliar, but once past that Trollope draws some great characters, who with some minor modifications would transcend time and place.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent introduction to Trollope
Review: I read "Barchester Towers" which is the sequel to this some years ago, and I must confess that whilst I liked it I found it very padded out in the second half. "The Warden" is a shorter and in my opinion a superior book. It is the first of the Barchester series and it makes an excellent introduction to Trollope's work. It tells of a dispute that arises between the Church of England and reformers over the rights of the warden of a hospital to the excess proceeds of the land which funds the hospital. In modern terms the hospital is a kind of retirement home for poor workers. The reformers led by John Bold believe the excess funds should go to the hospital residents. The church hierarchy led by Dr Grantly, the archdeacon of Barchester defend the rights of the church, but are content with legal technicalities. This turns into a great public scandal, and the warden Mr Harding suffers a moral dilemma over whether he really is entitled to the money. Trollope looks at both sides of the dispute dispassionately. His sympathies are with the warden who is shown to be the only person who really cares about the wellbeing of the hospital residents. Things are complicated by the fact that Dr Grantly is married to one of Mr Harding's daughters and John Bold is in love with the other. For those such as myself who are more familiar with the works of Charles Dickens it is interesting to see 19th century England from a different (more conservative) perspective. The novel also includes a satire of Dickens via a character called Mr Popular Sentiment.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent introduction to Trollope
Review: I read "Barchester Towers" which is the sequel to this some years ago, and I must confess that whilst I liked it I found it very padded out in the second half. "The Warden" is a shorter and in my opinion a superior book. It is the first of the Barchester series and it makes an excellent introduction to Trollope's work. It tells of a dispute that arises between the Church of England and reformers over the rights of the warden of a hospital to the excess proceeds of the land which funds the hospital. In modern terms the hospital is a kind of retirement home for poor workers. The reformers led by John Bold believe the excess funds should go to the hospital residents. The church hierarchy led by Dr Grantly, the archdeacon of Barchester defend the rights of the church, but are content with legal technicalities. This turns into a great public scandal, and the warden Mr Harding suffers a moral dilemma over whether he really is entitled to the money. Trollope looks at both sides of the dispute dispassionately. His sympathies are with the warden who is shown to be the only person who really cares about the wellbeing of the hospital residents. Things are complicated by the fact that Dr Grantly is married to one of Mr Harding's daughters and John Bold is in love with the other. For those such as myself who are more familiar with the works of Charles Dickens it is interesting to see 19th century England from a different (more conservative) perspective. The novel also includes a satire of Dickens via a character called Mr Popular Sentiment.

Rating:
Summary: Very modern theme
Review: In a world where ostensibly not-for-profit universities have amassed assets of, in at least one case, more than $20 billion, this book is very relevant. Trollope asks whether there is anything wrong with being a ridiculously rich non-profit organization with staff that soaks up most of the money intended for the folks whom the organization was created to assist. Well is there?

Rating:
Summary: Very modern theme
Review: In a world where ostensibly not-for-profit universities have amassed assets of, in at least one case, more than $20 billion, this book is very relevant. Trollope asks whether there is anything wrong with being a ridiculously rich non-profit organization with staff that soaks up most of the money intended for the folks whom the organization was created to assist. Well is there?

Rating:
Summary: the warden
Review: The history about a man that works in a church

Rating:
Summary: Not enough Victorian detail, insight, or characters!
Review: The Warden is certainly not the best example of the writing of this period and limits its scope to the church environment. It is therefore, somewhat limited, and never really delves into the lives of the characters, other than the Warden, who is tormented by a challenge to his moral integrity and reputation. We really need more characters that are better developed and a more complicated plot. This is somewhat simplistic, and therefore not challenging reading.

Rating:
Summary: What Should A Virtuous Man Do?
Review: This is a simple, short novel dealing with the ethical dilemma of a virtuous man. The Reverend Harding is the warden of a small home providing quarters for 12 retired, indigent workers. The facility is provided for by a trust set up by its founder over two hundred years ago. Income off the land provides revenue for the maintenance of the home and a living for the warden.. The warden has traditionally been the benefactor of this income which has increased over the years. The Rev. Harding is a gentle, honest man who has never given thought to his 800 pound annual revenue until a young reformer files suit, claiming the intent of the will is being violated. Harding thinks about the matter and is inclined to resign. The Bishop and Archdeacon argue that he is entitled to the income.

This book certainly would be a good one for a book club read and discussion. The reformer, the lawyers, the church hierarchy and Reverend Harding all have their views on the matter. Author Trollope does not really pass final judgment on his characters; none of them are cast in black and white terms. In fact Trollope makes the unusual move of bringing a criticism of both the press and Charles Dickens into the novel. The press makes strident value judgments about issues without bothering itself with all the facts or considering the effect their articles will have on the people involved; Charles Dickens treats people as being all good or all bad. Indeed, I found myself arguing with myself for several days after reading The Warden. What should the Rev. Harding done? Was the issue shrouded in shades of gray, or was it clear cut one way or the other?

Many critics consider this to be one of Trollope's lesser works, yet to me it is a very interesting, valuable presentation of an ethical dilemma. And for readers who are reluctant to pick up Victorian novels because of their common 700+ page lengths, this is a little gem at less than 300 pages. Criticism? Well I did a bit of eye-rolling during some of the melodramatic passages. All and all, though, this is an excellent read. From an historical standpoint there was considerable attention being paid to clergy income during this period in England. Trollope's tale was very timely in this regard.

One final note. There are many outstanding Victorian novels that I would give a five star rating to. This book doesn't quite fit into that hall of fame so I have given it just 4 stars, which shouldn't be interpreted as a slight to Mr. Trollope or The Warden.

Rating:
Summary: A Man of Conscience
Review: Trollope's debut novel about a man of conscience proved the first of a series set in fictional Barchester. Despite its slow start due to extensive exposition, the story gradually unfolds until the three main characters rush off to London--that great resolver of country crises. There is much internal debate as the "disinterested victim" ponders his comfortable situation. His quiescent conscience slowly awakens to a possible moral injustice, as a result of a sincere lawsuit provoked by an ardent reformer--in tune with 19th century England's mood for social reform. Two outside forces combine to make Mr. Warding's
existence miserable: the ponderous process of the Law (as represented by Sir Abraham Haphazard) and the unbridled power of the Press (in the person of Tom Towers, that "compounder of thunderbolts").

Rev. Septimus Harding at 50 is a mild-mannered Cathedral preceptor, who also serves as warden to a charity hospital for 12 aged men who are no longer able to earn their keep. Far from stealing anything from them, he has acutally increased their daily allowance from his own purse, but the mood of reform which sweeps the nation has caught even Barchester in its pitiless scrutiny. The press condemns; the young reformer (who is coincidentally the suitor of Harding's younger daughter) sets in motion the legal machinery which will surely topple this 400-year-old Injustice.

Now for the critical debate: does the State have the right to dictate to the Church how it shall spend its monies? Is temporal authority to tread upon, investigate, and demand reform in sacred matters? Is there no sanctity of the cathedral Close? Gentle Harding becomes trapped in the middle of this public debate--his heart smitten with personal pain in case he has inadvertently committed great wrong through merely doing his best for the men in his kindly care. Bullied by the Archdeacon, his overbearing son-on-law, the Warden embarks on a moral journey to find peace of mind. His only consolations are his devoted daughter (who denies her own heart in order to remain loyal to her tormented
father) and his aged friend, the Bishop, who is embarrassed but powerless before his pompous son, the Archdeacon. How can such a public outcry be appeased; how can true justice be done for the old beadsmen? Yet, must a man sacrifice his conscience for
the good of others?

Tropllope warns of the dangers of the pen: both the ruthless Press and the more subtle but effective novelist. It is difficult to stay the course of the pendulum of reform once it has been set in motion, as John Bold regretfully
discovers. This is a short intense novel of personal conviction and moral courage, a classic for thoughtful readers. The author provides hints into his characters' personalities by their very names, as did Dickens. [One wonders how such a church vs state situation would be handled today. Alabama courthouse.}