Key themes
- A good man in a bad institution — and what he does about it
- The press, public opinion and the person caught between them
- Conscience versus comfort
About this book
The Chronicles of Barsetshire, Book 1: The Warden The tranquil atmosphere of the cathedral town of Barchester is shattered when a scandal breaks concerning the financial affairs of a Church-run almsho
Published in 1855, The Warden is the first of Trollope's six Barchester novels. He reportedly wrote it to examine a real controversy about church sinecures in which he felt both the reformers and the defenders were missing something.
Discussion questions
- Mr Harding is an entirely good man who may be doing something wrong. How does Trollope develop this moral ambiguity — and does the novel settle the question of whether Harding is right to resign?
- The reformers and journalists attacking Harding are not wrong about the institution — but they are cruel about the person. How does Trollope hold both truths simultaneously?
- Tom Towers, the journalist, and Dr Grantly, the archdeacon, each represent an institutional force that has no room for Harding's conscience. What is Trollope saying about institutions and individuals?
- The novel is quietly and persistently funny about English ecclesiastical life. How does Trollope use comedy — to deflect from the moral seriousness or to serve it?
- The Warden is the first Barchester novel. What does it establish about Trollope's concerns and methods that continues through the series?
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