The Warden
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4.2 • 57 Ratings
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Publisher Description
Hiram's Hospital is an almshouse supported by a medieval charitable bequest to the Diocese of Barchester. The income maintains the almshouse itself, supports its twelve bedesmen, and, in addition, provides a comfortable abode and living for its warden. Mr Harding was appointed to this position through the patronage of his old friend the Bishop of Barchester, who is also the father of Archdeacon Grantly to whom Harding's older daughter, Susan, is married. The warden, who lives with his remaining child, an unmarried younger daughter Eleanor, performs his duties conscientiously. The story concerns the impact upon Harding and his circle when a zealous young reformer, John Bold, launches a campaign to expose the disparity in the apportionment of the charity's income between its object, the bedesmen, and its officer, Mr Harding. John Bold embarks on this campaign in a spirit of public duty despite his romantic involvement with Eleanor and previously cordial relations with Mr Harding. Bold starts a lawsuit and Mr Harding is advised by the indomitable Dr Grantly, his son-in-law, to stand his ground. Bold attempts to enlist the support of the press and engages the interest of The Jupiter (a newspaper representing The Times) whose editor, Tom Towers, pens editorials supporting reform of the charity, and presenting a portrait of Mr Harding as selfish and derelict in his conduct of his office. This image is taken up by commentators Dr Pessimist Anticant, and Mr Popular Sentiment, who have been seen as caricatures of Thomas Carlyle and Charles Dickens respectively.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
This first novel in Trollope s classic Chronicles of Barsetshire series pits reformer John Bold against Septimus Harding, the precentor of Barchester Cathedral and warden of Hiram s Hospital, an almshouse supported by a bequest to the local diocese. As Bold works to expose the fact that more of the charity s income goes to Harding than to its bedesmen, he begins to take a romantic interest in Harding s youngest daughter, Eleanor. In this audio edition, narrator David Shaw-Parker delivers a winning performance that keeps listeners engaged throughout. With a deep, accented voice Shaw-Parker brings this 19th-century novel to life. His timing and tone are spot-on and he creates distinct voices for the book s many characters.
Customer Reviews
A small but perfectly formed story
Mr T tells the story of a kindly cleric who is warden of an almshouse wherein live twelve old men on the income from a centuries old will. The trouble is that the old men get only about £20 each a year plus a place to live. The warden receives £800 per annum. A local activist, who happens to be sweet on the warden's unmarried daughter, thinks this is unjust. It is taken up by the inmates and a lawsuit is begun. The warden sees and agrees that the situation is less than ideal. He is pilloried in the press and is upset that his reputation is, as he sees it, unjustly smeared. So he takes the actions he sees as necesary to restore his honour. It's a nice read and raises some interesting debates, for instance as to whether some apparent unfairness should be justified for the greater good. I enjoyed it