The Anthony Trollope Library

In which Lily revels in the receipt and writing of her first love-letters, finding in them a sweet new world of affection and hope, while John Eames visits Allington with a conflicted heart, torn between his unrequited love for Lily and the realities of her engagement. Subsequently, John valiantly aids Lord De Guest in an alarming encounter with a vicious bull, revealing a moment of courage and ca...

In which Mrs. Dale contemplates the nature of Lily’s forthcoming marriage and the inevitable changes it portends for their family life, while a quiet yet earnest conversation unfolds between her and the squire regarding a proposed match between Bell and Bernard, her cousin. With all the tender anxieties and cautious hopes that attend the prospects of love and matrimony, both mother and uncle weigh...

In which Mr. Crosbie contemplates the tangled emotions stirred by his engagement to Lily Dale while residing uneasily amidst the fashions and intrigues of Courcy Castle, reflecting on his own honour and the allure of country life. Meanwhile, amid gentle society and concealed rivalries, he struggles to pen a heartfelt letter to Lily, striving to reconcile his affection with the worldliness that sur...

In which Mr. Crosbie and Bernard Dale depart from the gentle Lily Dale with hearts full of quiet affection and unspoken apprehensions, while Crosbie contemplates the weighty future that awaits him beyond the pleasant countryside. En route, Crosbie pauses in the venerable city of Barchester, where he encounters the kind-hearted yet modest Mr. Harding and gains a glimpse of the solemn traditions and...

In which the grand assembly at Courcy Castle unfolds with all its vicissitudes of family alliances, ambitions, and social stratagems, where the glances of the old earl and the manners of Lady Dumbello set the season's tone. Amidst whispered scandals and delicate tensions, Mr. Crosbie navigates the precarious waters of engagement rumours, confiding his uncertainties to the observant Lady Alexandrin...

In which young John Eames, burdened by the complications of his affections and obligations, seeks solitude in the Guestwick woods to contemplate his uncertain future and the tangled ties that bind him. In his musings, he encounters the genial Earl of Crowborough, whose kindly familiarity and practical counsel offer a momentary respite from the young clerk's anxieties before he resolves to write a...

In which Lily Dale faces the bittersweet realities of her engagement to Adolphus Crosbie, grappling with his revelations of financial difficulties and past entanglements that cast shadows over their future together. Yet, through heartfelt discourse and mutual resolve, they reaffirm their devotion amidst the gentle trials of parting and the tender hope that sustains them both.

In which Miss Lily Dale, adorned with the triumph of engagement, navigates the delicate social intricacies of her London-bound prospect and the uneasy enmity of an old friend, while her cousin Bell confronts the persistent suit of Bernard Dale with a mixture of resolve and reluctant kindness. The evening shadows lengthen on Guestwick and Allington alike, as the gentlefolk ponder matters of the hea...

In which the uneasy truce between Mr. and Mrs. Lupex unfolds amid convivial dinners and veiled tensions, revealing the complexities of a marriage sustained by spirituous solace and tentative reconciliations. Meanwhile, a fierce dispute erupts between Mrs. Lupex and Miss Roper, exposing undercurrents of rivalry and decorum within the domestic confines of the lodging-house, while Mr. Cradell observe...

In which Adolphus Crosbie receives a charming invitation to Courcy Castle and resolves to leave the quiet village of Allington, much to Lily Dale’s quiet dismay, as they confront the realities and delays imposed upon their anticipated marriage. Meanwhile, the party pays visits to the austere Lady Julia De Guest and their humble friend Mrs. Eames, illuminating the varied temperaments and social tie...

In which the vexed household at Burton Crescent becomes the scene of discord and jealousy, most notably involving the fiery Mrs. Lupex, whose interactions with her husband and his acquaintances bring discomfort to all concerned. Meanwhile, John Eames grapples with conflicting affections and a troublesome letter from Amelia Roper that threatens to entangle his thoughts and disturb his peace more gr...

In which a festive evening at the Small House gathers old friends and new acquaintances under the gentle glow of moonlight, revealing the tender and candid expressions of love and expectation among the guests. The delicate interplay of affection, social fears, and unspoken hopes unfolds quietly, as the dancers twirl and the neighbours mingle, each caught within their own delicate reveries and aspi...

In which preparations for a small social gathering at the Small House bring together various intentions and apprehensions, revealing the delicate interplay of youthful hopes and familial duties. Amidst the gentle comings and goings, Bernard Dale makes a candid proposal to his cousin Bell, whose composed refusal quietly underscores the complexity of the ties that bind them.

In which the sporting excursion of two young gentlemen and their ladies reveals the subtle tensions of secret hopes and understated disappointments amidst familial relations at the country estate. A candid and uneasy conversation between lover and uncle exposes the realities surrounding a fortune, bringing to the fore the sober challenges that must be faced before these sweet attachments may be pr...

In which Apollo Crosbie departs London for the quiet of Allington, while Johnny Eames prepares for his own autumnal holiday, entangled in a delicate liaison with the ever-volatile Amelia Roper. The narrative reveals Johnny’s inner conflict as he returns home, only to find himself painfully confronted with the news of Lily Dale's engagement to Mr. Crosbie, shaking his heart and composure.

In which we observe the awkward and shy John Eames, a young man of unripe promise and ardent but silent affection for Lily Dale, commencing his modest career in London under the watchful eye of his mother’s trusted guardian. Amidst reflections on youth and social standing, we see him navigating the humbler realities of lodgings and companionship, all the while sustaining a gentle but unvoiced love...

In which two fair-haired sisters, Bell and Lily Dale, find themselves cast in the quiet light of matrimonial prospects, one to the dashing Mr. Crosbie and the other under the watchful eye of a wealthy uncle. The gentle unfolding of engagements and expectations reveals the nuanced interplay of affection, social standing, and financial considerations that attend their families in Allington.

In which the history and character of the Dale family, longstanding squires of Allington, are carefully set forth alongside a detailed description of their ancient Tudor home and its modest surroundings, revealing a manor steeped in tradition yet lacking in grandeur. The narrative gently paints the squire, Christopher Dale, as a man of duty and restrained emotion, and situates the Great House amid...

In which Mrs. Dale, a proud yet somewhat isolated widow, devotes herself quietly to the wellbeing and appearances of her two daughters, navigating the delicate relations with their kindly but distant uncle, the squire. As the young ladies prepare for an evening at the Great House, under the gentle moonlight and among hopes of suitors, their mother contemplates her place in their lives and the futu...

In which we are introduced to the genteel society of Allington through the conversations and observations surrounding Mr. Adolphus Crosbie, a man of modest official standing yet notable social ascendancy, and the Dale family, whose connections and dispositions are delicately sketched against the charming backdrop of their intersecting gardens. The afternoon passes in amiable croquet and rustic pas...

In which the fragile dignity of the Church of England is brought into question through the unenviable predicament of the Rev. Mark Robarts, whose premature preferment and ensuing public censure stir a quiet storm in the clerical and local communities. Meanwhile, the political temper of the shire is enlivened by a spirited electoral contest between entrenched aristocratic power and an enterprising...

In which the reader is gently conducted through the matrimonial fortunes of several beloved couples, attending the solemnities and social graces that accompany their unions with a kindly and discreet eye. Love and duty intertwine amid the hushed splendours of society, as each bride and groom navigates their new stations with a mixture of hope, pride, and delicate adjustment to the roles fate has a...

In which the sober duties of bailiffs are noted with a hint of irony, and Lady Lufton extends a gracious yet firm hand of friendship to Mr. Robarts amidst recent troubles, inviting him and his wife to dinner to draw a discreet curtain over past indiscretions. Meanwhile, Miss Robarts finds herself summoned to a poignant meeting with Lady Lufton at Hogglestock, where a tender and momentous propositi...

In which the peaceful precincts of Barchester are stirred by scandalous rumours touching the new prebendary’s reputation and the tragical collapse of a prominent marriage alliance, much to the consternation of the ecclesiastical community. The archdeacon, torn between hope and doubt, takes upon himself the sombre task of seeking truth in London while at home the family steels themselves for the po...

In which the unfortunate Mr. Robarts faces the distressing arrival of bailiffs at Framley Parsonage, bringing with them a humiliating inventory of his possessions that casts a shadow over his dignity and clerical standing. Amid this dark hour, Lord Lufton unexpectedly intervenes with generous support, offering both financial aid and a comforting promise of fraternity that helps to restore some hop...