Dr. Thorne by Anthony Trollope

Reading Anthony Trollope is like chatting with a good-hearted gossipy old friend who tells you of all the goings on of his neighbors without once being snippy or sarcastic or even overly condemnatory of those who misbehave. He gives you hints right off that his stories end happily, so you are not held in suspense as to the outcome, but the charm is in hearing the details of how it all comes about. He is a welcome reprieve when you wish to slow down and believe once again that people, despite all their faults, are mostly decent, and that sometimes, despite all the odds, things do end up as they should.

For those familiar with Victorian literature, I would say that he is less sharp and bitter than Thackery, less melodramatic and prone to painting in black and white than Dickens, less passionate and personal than the Bronte sisters. He is humorous without lapsing into farce, critical of certain aspects of the society of his time without being a crusader, and altogether a very pleasurable friend to have.

This novel is #3 in Trollope's Chronicles of Barsetshire series and tells the story of the titular doctor and his niece Mary. Despite her poverty and questionable parentage, she is the beloved of Frank Gresham, the heir to a large estate. However, because the estate is mortgaged to the hilt, all his relatives tell him constantly that "he must marry money!" Will Frank sacrifice love for lucre? Will May reject him because she feels her "blood" is inferior to his? Will they marry and live in poverty and ignominy? Will Mary ever receive her rightful inheritance?

Trollope affectionately portrays rural English life among the middle and upper classes, and I can't think of a better place to spend a weekend.