Anthony Trollope: A Victorian in his World

Anthony Trollope was one of the most successful, prolific and respected English novelists of the Victorian era. Some of his best-loved works, collectively known as the Chronicles of Barsetshire, revolve around the imaginary county of Barsetshire. He also wrote perceptive novels on political, social, and gender issues, and on other topical matters. But he was also a fascinating man, full of idiosyncracies and driven to write. His autobiography is a fascinating tale of a suffering childhood and early years to a career as a Post Office worker and other jobs. His travels around the world, unusual for his day, took him to Britain, Europe, the Middle East, Egypt and South Africa. He visited the West Indies, the United States, Australia and New Zealand; and everywhere he went, he wrote. Trollope's literary reputation dipped somewhat during the last years of his life, but he regained the esteem of critics by the mid-twentieth century.