Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
[Place of publication not identified] : AUK Classics, ©2012.
Description
This is Trollope's most detailed and concise study of middle-class life in a small provincial community - in this case Baslehurst, in the luscious Devon countryside. It is also a charming love-story, centring on sweet-natured Rachel Ray and her suitor Luke Rowan, whose battle to wrest controlover Baslehurst's brewery involves a host of typically Trollopian local characters.
User reviews
LibraryThing member DieFledermaus
I do love books by Anthony Trollope, but I had to knock off half a star for this one because the anti-Semitism bothered me too much. A couple others of his that I’ve read had something like this – but those ones were much longer, so it wasn’t as big a plot point – and had more mitigating
Besides the unfortunate anti-Semitic overtones, the book has what I like about Trollope – heavy-handed narrating, lots of descriptions of the varieties of clergymen and their trivial yet monumental (to them) squabbles, well-written conflicts on the way to marriage. As opposed to some Victorian novelists who strive for realism in narration, Trollope makes all sorts of comments about the characters, passing judgment, saying who is right and wrong, even in some cases spoiling the ending. I love this tendency. He does that a lot in this book, which made normal opening-chapter character descriptions very interesting. For example, Rachel’s sister Mrs. Prime is one of the unsympathetic characters – but Trollope shows that she has good intentions and does good work – but, in her inflexibility, judgmental behavior and overzealous adherence to religion is, in his opinion, quite wrong.
Also loved the clergyman squabbling. Unlike Barchester Towers, the religious conflicts take a backseat to Rachel’s romance with Luke Rowan, but we still get satisfying glimpses of the varying species of clergymen. Like who goes to what church – where Rachel and her mother side with the genial, worldly Mr. Comfort and indifferent Dr. Harford, while Mrs. Primer takes up the cause of the zealous, critical Mr. Prong -
“Mrs. Prime, however, did not choose to say anything against Mr. Comfort, with whom her husband had been curate, and who, in her younger days, had been a light to her own feet. Mr. Comfort was by no means such a one as Dr. Harford, though the two old men were friends. Mr. Comfort had been regarded as a Calvinist when he was young, as Evangelical in middle life, and was still known as a Low Churchman in his old age. Therefore Mrs. Prime would spare him in her sneers, though she left his ministry. He had become lukewarm, but not absolutely stone cold, like the old rector at Baslehurst. So said Mrs. Prime. Old men would become lukewarm, and therefore she could pardon Mr. Comfort. But Dr. Harford had never been warm at all,—had never been warm with the warmth which she valued. Therefore she scorned him and sneered at him. In return for which Rachel scorned Mr. Prong and sneered at him.”
Some of Trollope’s love stories may seem antiquated now – generally two young people in love, but face all sorts of 19th c. societal obstacles – from the wrong class, need to marry for money etc. But I like to read about all the fuss over what seems not a big deal now. And it was back then – but despite the fact that some may think Trollope is making a huge fuss over trivial love problems, who doesn’t make a fuss over their own love problems today? No matter how not-original or small your own romantic complications are, of course the world seems like it’s ending when they happen. The relationship problems here concern Rachel Ray, from a clergy-connected but poor family, and Luke Rowan, part owner of the brewery, who falls in love with her. First, fuss is made about her being alone with a MAN! Then, when his intentions prove honorable, other characters decide that he shouldn’t be throwing himself away on a penniless girl. They get into a fight over wording of a letter. That is the majority of the conflict. But I don’t care – I love Trollope’s precise delineation of the characters throughout their difficulties. Just wish there was less anti-Semitism here.
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factors. For example, in The Way We Live Now, a getting-up-in-age girl from a good family wants to marry a wealthy Jewish man and her family and friend put up some violent, anti-Semitic opposition. However, most of them are portrayed as snobby and unsympathetic and the girl herself is bit of a golddigger. Here, an election for MP pits a country squire type against a Jewish businessman, and the campaigning gets rather ugly. It wasn’t the main storyline, but was still annoying. Trollope does imply that the Gentile candidate was less qualified and that their religion-bating tactics weren’t the best, but the man’s wife – who does a lot of the campaigning – is supposed to be sympathetic. She takes the part of the main character, Rachel Ray.Besides the unfortunate anti-Semitic overtones, the book has what I like about Trollope – heavy-handed narrating, lots of descriptions of the varieties of clergymen and their trivial yet monumental (to them) squabbles, well-written conflicts on the way to marriage. As opposed to some Victorian novelists who strive for realism in narration, Trollope makes all sorts of comments about the characters, passing judgment, saying who is right and wrong, even in some cases spoiling the ending. I love this tendency. He does that a lot in this book, which made normal opening-chapter character descriptions very interesting. For example, Rachel’s sister Mrs. Prime is one of the unsympathetic characters – but Trollope shows that she has good intentions and does good work – but, in her inflexibility, judgmental behavior and overzealous adherence to religion is, in his opinion, quite wrong.
Also loved the clergyman squabbling. Unlike Barchester Towers, the religious conflicts take a backseat to Rachel’s romance with Luke Rowan, but we still get satisfying glimpses of the varying species of clergymen. Like who goes to what church – where Rachel and her mother side with the genial, worldly Mr. Comfort and indifferent Dr. Harford, while Mrs. Primer takes up the cause of the zealous, critical Mr. Prong -
“Mrs. Prime, however, did not choose to say anything against Mr. Comfort, with whom her husband had been curate, and who, in her younger days, had been a light to her own feet. Mr. Comfort was by no means such a one as Dr. Harford, though the two old men were friends. Mr. Comfort had been regarded as a Calvinist when he was young, as Evangelical in middle life, and was still known as a Low Churchman in his old age. Therefore Mrs. Prime would spare him in her sneers, though she left his ministry. He had become lukewarm, but not absolutely stone cold, like the old rector at Baslehurst. So said Mrs. Prime. Old men would become lukewarm, and therefore she could pardon Mr. Comfort. But Dr. Harford had never been warm at all,—had never been warm with the warmth which she valued. Therefore she scorned him and sneered at him. In return for which Rachel scorned Mr. Prong and sneered at him.”
Some of Trollope’s love stories may seem antiquated now – generally two young people in love, but face all sorts of 19th c. societal obstacles – from the wrong class, need to marry for money etc. But I like to read about all the fuss over what seems not a big deal now. And it was back then – but despite the fact that some may think Trollope is making a huge fuss over trivial love problems, who doesn’t make a fuss over their own love problems today? No matter how not-original or small your own romantic complications are, of course the world seems like it’s ending when they happen. The relationship problems here concern Rachel Ray, from a clergy-connected but poor family, and Luke Rowan, part owner of the brewery, who falls in love with her. First, fuss is made about her being alone with a MAN! Then, when his intentions prove honorable, other characters decide that he shouldn’t be throwing himself away on a penniless girl. They get into a fight over wording of a letter. That is the majority of the conflict. But I don’t care – I love Trollope’s precise delineation of the characters throughout their difficulties. Just wish there was less anti-Semitism here.
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LibraryThing member pgchuis
Luke Rowan comes to Baslehurst to enforce his right to inherit a half-share in the brewery. He is resisted in this by the existing partner, Mr Tappitt. Through Mr Tappitt's daughters Luke meets Rachel Ray and courts her successfully. However, as his dispute with Mr Tappitt is heating up he leaves
I found this novel well-constructed and the brewery storyline was entertaining. I also enjoyed the Prime/Prong "romance" and Mrs Ray's vacillations. On the other hand, not a lot really happened otherwise. Luke was not sufficiently herolike for my tastes. Poor Rachel's letter to him was so clearly written to make it clear that she dissociated herself from every word, but he was unable to perceive this and left her waiting for a cruel length of time. Rachel seemed unable ever to be honest with him about her feelings, which got a bit tiresome. Also, I don't think Mrs Rowan was treated as severely as she deserved.
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town to pursue legal remedies and Rachel's weak mother is induced by her clergyman to force Rachel to break the engagement off.I found this novel well-constructed and the brewery storyline was entertaining. I also enjoyed the Prime/Prong "romance" and Mrs Ray's vacillations. On the other hand, not a lot really happened otherwise. Luke was not sufficiently herolike for my tastes. Poor Rachel's letter to him was so clearly written to make it clear that she dissociated herself from every word, but he was unable to perceive this and left her waiting for a cruel length of time. Rachel seemed unable ever to be honest with him about her feelings, which got a bit tiresome. Also, I don't think Mrs Rowan was treated as severely as she deserved.
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LibraryThing member japaul22
Rachel Ray by Anthony Trollope
I liked this relatively brief (for Trollope) novel about a young woman named Rachel Ray who is swept off her feet by Luke Rowan. They then face the scrutiny and interference by their families and communities. Rachel is seen to be grasping above her station and Luke is
Definitely recommended for Trollope fans, but not as a starting point.
I liked this relatively brief (for Trollope) novel about a young woman named Rachel Ray who is swept off her feet by Luke Rowan. They then face the scrutiny and interference by their families and communities. Rachel is seen to be grasping above her station and Luke is
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burning bridges with a local family over business. Which brings me to a storyline I really enjoyed. Luke is part owner of a local brewery which is known for making bad beer, but doing it successfully enough. Luke wants to make good beer, much to his partner's chagrin. I thought this whole story line was funny and actually paralleled the craft beer vs. large market beer industry which is still a thing in America today. I also really liked a few of the female characters in this book, who I felt were realistically drawn and had contrasting viewpoints that were all realistic. There was a local election that did bother me a bit because one of the men running was Jewish and there were many different local reactions to his Jewishness. Luckily I read this as a group read, and the context provided about what was happening in English politics at the time made me feel a little more accepting of it being included at all.Definitely recommended for Trollope fans, but not as a starting point.
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LibraryThing member proustitute
Early Trollope—lacks the complexity, the humor, and the gutting character portraits of his more mature work.
For completists.
For completists.
Subjects
Language
Original publication date
1863
ISBN
9781781667279
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DDC/MDS
| 823/.8 |