Reading the Chronicles of Barsetshire

Every day or two, I strolled to the village to hear some of the gossip which is incessantly going on there, circulating either from mouth to mouth, or from newspaper to newspaper, and which, taken in homeopathic doses, was really as refreshing in its way as the rustle of leaves and the peeping of frogs.

henry david thoreau

Reading the Chronicles of Barsetshire. August 14, 2025.

A village is a wonderful place to observe the human condition without the surrounding distractions that generally accompany city life. The traffic, lights, and crowds all tend to drown out the delicious details of life, blurring them together. However, in a small, less-industrialized village setting the same scenario is more sharply contrasted against its quiet backdrop, adding to its humor for the outside observer. I was fortunate enough to see this play out in real life when we moved to a tiny village. Things did seem more magnified and consequently, funnier. My husband and I got a great deal of enjoyment out of it all. I was even a participant on occasion.

I remember being out for a walk in our wooded village one fine afternoon with the sound of the river accompanying me only to find myself in the aftermath of a loud feud that had just taken place. Being known as a compassionate listener as well as being conveniently available sealed my fate that afternoon. At two separate points along my walk I was the unlucky recipient of their aired grievances. Apparently, one’s dog was too vocal and the one neighbor said so- none too kindly. The other told her to get off his porch- also none too kindly. Needless to say both felt they were right and the other was quite wrong.

Not wishing to get involved in the doggy debacle, I listened with sympathy and attempted to defuse the heated emotions with phrases such as “You know how his dog is when he sees a squirrel” and “Don’t take what she said to heart”. There was some back patting and attempts to soothe. I am not sure if the two resolved their differences, but my husband and I sure laughed about it later. An argument like this would have taken a different tone in a city setting and likely ended up on the Neighbors App. Admittedly, that would’ve been funny too. However, the argument in our village contrasted sharply with the peaceful forest setting making the whole thing appear as a caricature. Proof that setting matters in a story. A good author such as Anthony Trollope knows this.

The Chronicles of Barsetshire

Trollope had a gift for notice the details in life and his literature reflects this. Drawn from his experience in public service, he clearly appreciates the humor in the small doings of everyday village life where minor tribulations can easily feel exaggerated. Trollope dives into the details of everyday living so that the reader is right there with his characters. We feel their tribulations, sorrows, and triumphs. Even Trollope’s younger contemporary and severe critic, Henry James, writes about this:

His great, his inestimable merit was a complete appreciation of the usual. … [H]e felt all daily and immediate things as well as saw them; felt them in a simple, direct, salubrious way, with their sadness, their gladness, their charm, their comicality, all their obvious and measurable meanings. … Trollope will remain one of the most trustworthy, though not one of the most eloquent, of the writers who have helped the heart of man to know itself.

Henry james

And so, I am enthusiastically embarking on his six-book series the Chronicles of Barsetshire with all the dramas of the clergy in the fictional county of Barsetshire. I have read “The Warden” and am now reading “Barchester Towers”. Each book gives attention to several major characters in Barsetshire rather than centering on a single individual. Trollope invites you to come along and look under the microscrope at the ups and downs of the people in clergy life and their well-intended machinations. Trollope takes the time to properly acquaint his readers with each character. This is necessary so that we may appreciate their trials and tribulations to the fullest and laugh in all the right places.

Currently, my energies are focused on Mrs. Quiverful’s marching off to the new Bishop’s home in search of justice for her husband after his promised position is taken away which would have lifted their family of 14 children out of poverty. She is a desperate and determined woman. And what will happen with the hugely unpopular new chaplain Obadiah Slope? There is Mr. Arabin who wasn’t in love with Eleanor Bold until he learned Obadiah Slope was. And will Mr. Harding get his job back? (Mr. Harding lost his job in the first book). If you want to read about it too all six of these books are free to read here. The Chronicles of Barsetshire elevate the quirky village into a fun read for those that like the details!

Have a beautiful day!