Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Newcastle : Cambridge Scholars Pub., 2008.
Description
Biography & Autobiography. Nonfiction. HTML: Dive into the back story behind renowned British novelist Anthony Trollope's rise to literary fame and glory. This autobiography offers a movingly detailed portrait of Trollope's childhood, his early career missteps (including a stint as a postal worker), and his blossoming literary interests and ambitions..
User reviews
LibraryThing member souloftherose
I always feel torn when it comes to reading author biographies/autobiographies: I want to read them before I read the author's novels so that I can understand their novels, but the biographies often include plot summaries and spoilers for those books. For Trollope I decided to risk it and take the
Written towards the end of Trollope's life, but only published in 1883 after his death, this autobiography covers Trollope's unhappy childhood, his work for the Post Office and travels abroad, all of which I found interesting, but by far my favourite sections were those where Trollope discusses his own books and the works of contemporary authors.
Trollope was very methodical in his writing habits, setting aside time each day for writing and recording in detail how much he wrote in a dairy. It seems to have been this admission that upset the critics when his autobiography was published. When writing, he seems to have 'lived' with his characters, something I'm sure is a factor in my finding so many of Trollope's characters very believable.
"It is so that I have lived with my characters, and thence has come whatever success I have obtained. There is a gallery of them, and of all in that gallery I may say that I know the tone of the voice, and the colour of the hair, every flame of the eye, and the very clothes they wear. Of each man I could assert whether he would have said these or the other words; of every woman, whether she would then have smiled or so have frowned. When I shall feel that this intimacy ceases, then I shall know that the old horse should be turned out to grass."
Because this is Trollope, there are plenty of digressions in the autobiography; it's broadly chronological but chapters where he considers a history of English fiction, shares his views on what makes a good novel and assesses his contemporary English novelists are slotted in amongst the chapters commenting on his published works.
On his published works, I've added several of his less well-known novels such as The Three Clerks, Miss Mackensie and The Vicar of Bulhampton to my reading list, but it was Trollope's comments on the characters which feature in his Palliser novels that really captured my imagination and made me even more eager to continue with this series next year. Although Trollope frequently comments that he doesn't expect most of his novels to last and be read more than a few years after their publication, it's the characters in the Palliser and Barsetshire novels who he believes will be remembered if any are:
"I do not think it probable that my name will remain among those who in the next century will be known as the writers of English prose fiction;—but if it does, that permanence of success will probably rest on the character of Plantagenet Palliser, Lady Glencora, and the Rev. Mr. Crawley."
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plunge and although there were a couple of plot reveals for books I hadn't read, I'm very glad I did.Written towards the end of Trollope's life, but only published in 1883 after his death, this autobiography covers Trollope's unhappy childhood, his work for the Post Office and travels abroad, all of which I found interesting, but by far my favourite sections were those where Trollope discusses his own books and the works of contemporary authors.
Trollope was very methodical in his writing habits, setting aside time each day for writing and recording in detail how much he wrote in a dairy. It seems to have been this admission that upset the critics when his autobiography was published. When writing, he seems to have 'lived' with his characters, something I'm sure is a factor in my finding so many of Trollope's characters very believable.
"It is so that I have lived with my characters, and thence has come whatever success I have obtained. There is a gallery of them, and of all in that gallery I may say that I know the tone of the voice, and the colour of the hair, every flame of the eye, and the very clothes they wear. Of each man I could assert whether he would have said these or the other words; of every woman, whether she would then have smiled or so have frowned. When I shall feel that this intimacy ceases, then I shall know that the old horse should be turned out to grass."
Because this is Trollope, there are plenty of digressions in the autobiography; it's broadly chronological but chapters where he considers a history of English fiction, shares his views on what makes a good novel and assesses his contemporary English novelists are slotted in amongst the chapters commenting on his published works.
On his published works, I've added several of his less well-known novels such as The Three Clerks, Miss Mackensie and The Vicar of Bulhampton to my reading list, but it was Trollope's comments on the characters which feature in his Palliser novels that really captured my imagination and made me even more eager to continue with this series next year. Although Trollope frequently comments that he doesn't expect most of his novels to last and be read more than a few years after their publication, it's the characters in the Palliser and Barsetshire novels who he believes will be remembered if any are:
"I do not think it probable that my name will remain among those who in the next century will be known as the writers of English prose fiction;—but if it does, that permanence of success will probably rest on the character of Plantagenet Palliser, Lady Glencora, and the Rev. Mr. Crawley."
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LibraryThing member Porius
sure he talks about how much money he made by literature: 70,000 pounds. but what about the rest? "it will not , i trust, be supposed by any reader that i have intended in this so-called autobiography to give a record of my inner life.no man ever did so truly,-and no man ever will. rousseau
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probably attempted it, but who doubts but that rousseau has confessed in much the thoughts and convictions rather than the facts of his life. if the rustle of a woman's petticoat has ever stirred my blood; if a cup of wine has been a joy to me; if i have thought tobacco at midnight in pleasant company to be one of the elements of an earthly paradise; if now and again i have somewhat recklessly fluttered a 5 pound note over a card table;-of what matter is it to any reader? i have betrayed no woman. wine has brought me no sorrow. it has been the companionship of smoking that i have loved, rather than the habit. i have never desired to win money, and i have lost none. to enjoy the excitement of pleasure, but to be free from its vices and ill effects,-to have the sweet , and leave thge bitter untasted,-that has been my study. the preachers tell us that this is impossible. it seems to me that hitherto i have succeeded fairly well. i will not say that i have never scorched a finger,-but i carry no ugly wounds." who could say more? Show Less
LibraryThing member lizzy_bb
Surely one of the strangest autobiographies I have read. Includes a list of exactly how much money each of his novels made.
LibraryThing member ACDoyleLibrary
"Trollope's [Autobiography], perhaps, is as good as any that I know, but of all forms of literature it is the one least adapted to the national genius. You could not imagine a British Rousseau, still less a British Benvenuto Cellini." --Through the Magic Door, p. 86-87.
LibraryThing member stephxsu
This was a read for one of my classes, and unfortunately I have to say that I liked Trollope and his works much better before I read this. It is interesting, no doubt--but the man himself is rather unappealing, thoroughly self-important, lacking in confidence, and vindictive. It is more a
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discussion of his works and his theory on work than a thorough autobiography. Still, of course, it is a must-read for Trollopian fans. Show Less
LibraryThing member KayCliff
Gives fascinating glimpses of 19th-century publishing, and of Trollope's own idiosyncratic methods of writing.
LibraryThing member mbmackay
Autobiography of one of my favourite authors.
Interestingly, publication after his death led to his downgrading in critical acclaim. His misdemeanour? He described how he worked on his novels every day from 5:30AM for three hours - producing a set quota of words/pages daily.
To the Victorian elite,
The book is more of a literary autobiography than a "life". There is very little personal information provided.
I enjoyed it - but Trollope has given me much pleasure, so I'm likely to be biased.
Interestingly, publication after his death led to his downgrading in critical acclaim. His misdemeanour? He described how he worked on his novels every day from 5:30AM for three hours - producing a set quota of words/pages daily.
To the Victorian elite,
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this smacked of artisan labour. Artists, on the other hand, were supposed to wait for the muse to call, and then dash off their works of art. What a load of tosh!The book is more of a literary autobiography than a "life". There is very little personal information provided.
I enjoyed it - but Trollope has given me much pleasure, so I'm likely to be biased.
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Language
Original publication date
1883
Physical description
vi, 188 p.; 21 cm
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DDC/MDS
| 823.8 |