Barchester Towers

When the old bishop of Barchester dies, the quiet cathedral city becomes a battlefield. A new bishop arrives with a formidable wife and an ambitious chaplain, and everyone from archdeacons to poor clergymen begins maneuvering for influence, income, and position. At the center of the storm is Eleanor Bold, a young widow whose hand and fortune attract several very different suitors.

Anthony Trollope's Barchester Towers is a comic masterpiece about church politics, courtship, and the ordinary human desire to get ahead. It is full of memorable characters: the domineering Mrs. Proudie, the scheming Mr. Slope, the charming Signora Neroni, and the gentle Mr. Harding. Trollope's ironic, confiding narrator makes the novel as pleasurable to read as it is shrewd about human nature.

This edition is for anyone who enjoys Victorian fiction, social comedy, or a richly detailed portrait of a community. It contains the complete text of the novel, a new introduction, a character guide, a summary of the story, a note on its themes, a glossary of period words and phrases, and questions for discussion. Whether you are reading for a class, a book club, or your own enjoyment, this companion edition offers everything you need to enter the world of Barchester.