Enter the delightful, deceitful, and deeply human world of the ecclesiastical civil war in Anthony Trollope’s beloved classic, and read the complete book online for free.
Published in 1857, Barchester Towers is the undisputed masterpiece of Anthony Trollope and the most famous entry in his renowned “Chronicles of Barsetshire” series. Picking up where its predecessor The Warden left off, this novel plunges readers into the heart of a quiet English cathedral city suddenly torn apart by ambition, gossip, and the battle for power. The old Warden, Mr. Harding, has been displaced, and the new bishop arrives accompanied by his formidable, domineering wife and a slippery, oily chaplain named Obadiah Slope.
What follows is not a war of swords, but a war of words. Trollope orchestrates a magnificent comedy of manners where the prize is a bishop’s throne, a deanery, and the hand of a wealthy widow. With gentle irony and profound psychological insight, he reveals that the men of God are just as susceptible to vanity, greed, and romantic folly as the rest of us. This is Victorian England at its most charming and its most cutting.
On this page, you can experience the novel that cemented Trollope’s reputation as the chronicler of English clerical life. We offer the complete 1857 novel for online reading.
Book Info
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Title | Barchester Towers |
| Author | Anthony Trollope |
| Year of Publication | 1857 |
| Genre | Classic Literature, Comedy of Manners, Satire |
| Language | English |
| Legal Status | Public Domain Worldwide |
| Format | Online Reading |
Read Barchester Towers Online
Witness the arrival of the new Bishop Proudie and his fearsome wife. Begin this cornerstone of Victorian literature by exploring the opening chapters interactively below.
This preview introduces the peace of Barchester and the storm that is about to break over it. However, the full, intricate drama—the scheming of Mr. Slope, the romantic entanglements of the lovely Eleanor Harding, and the magnificent pomposity of the Stanhope family—is available in the complete text for our subscribers.
A subscription unlocks this essential work of English literature and the entire “Chronicles of Barsetshire” series. Discover why Trollope remains the favorite novelist of prime ministers and poets alike.
About the Novel Barchester Towers
This book is often held up as the perfect Victorian novel. It has everything: romance, humor, villainy, and a deep, affectionate understanding of human weakness. It is a book about the church that is not particularly religious; it is a book about power disguised as a book about propriety.
The War for the Deanery
The central plot of Barchester Towers is a prolonged, hilarious, and utterly absorbing battle over who will become the new Dean of Barchester. On one side stands Mr. Slope, the evangelical chaplain who wishes to reform the sleepy High Church traditions. On the other stands Dr. Vesey Stanhope, a clergyman who has neglected his duties for a decade of pleasant idleness in Italy. And caught in the middle is gentle Mr. Harding, who only wants to play his cello in peace. The campaign involves forged signatures, manipulated sermons, and a legendary tea party that ranks among the greatest comic set-pieces in English fiction.
Mrs. Proudie: The Bishop’s Better Half
Trollope created in Mrs. Proudie one of literature’s most unforgettable characters. The bishop may hold the title, but his wife holds the power. She is meddlesome, domineering, and utterly convinced of her own righteousness. She despises Mr. Slope not because he is a hypocrite, but because he dares to challenge her authority. Trollope reportedly disliked her so much that he tried to “kill her off” between novels, but his readers adored to hate her, and she became a recurring fixture.
Obadiah Slope: The Art of the Hypocrite
Mr. Slope is the villain you love to despise. He is oily, ambitious, and utterly insincere in his piety. He preaches humility while clawing his way toward power. He courts the wealthy widow Eleanor Harding for her fortune while pretending to admire her soul. Yet Trollope, ever the fair-minded observer, gives Slope moments of genuine cleverness and even a strange, desperate energy. He is not a monster; he is simply a man who mistakes greed for ambition.
Romance and Misunderstanding
The romantic plot of Barchester Towers is a masterclass in dramatic irony. Eleanor Harding, the widowed daughter of Mr. Harding, finds herself pursued by three very different men: the odious Mr. Slope, the dashing but frivolous Bertie Stanhope, and the quiet, sincere Francis Arabin. The reader watches with delight as Eleanor’s family misinterprets every innocent interaction, convinced she is about to marry the despised Slope. The misunderstandings pile up with exquisite comic timing until the inevitable, heartwarming resolution.
The Stanhope Family: Exotic Interlopers
The arrival of the Stanhopes from Italy injects a dose of continental worldliness into the insular world of Barchester. The Signora Neroni, a beautiful, manipulative, and crippled flirt, holds court from her chaise-longue, charming and discomfiting every man who approaches her. She is perhaps Trollope’s most complex female character—simultaneously predatory and tragic, powerful and confined. Her scenes crackle with a dangerous energy that contrasts sharply with the polite drawing-room conversations elsewhere in the novel.
Trollope’s Gentle Voice
One of the unique joys of Barchester Towers is Trollope’s narrative voice. He speaks directly to the reader, confiding his opinions, admitting his narrative tricks, and confessing that he, like his characters, is far from perfect. He famously pauses the climax of the novel to discuss whether or not he should allow his hero to succeed. This intimacy, this sense of a wise, kind, slightly weary gentleman telling you a story by the fireside, is Trollope’s greatest gift.
Why Read the Novel Barchester Towers Today?
Barchester Towers offers a refuge from the noise and urgency of modern life. It is a novel of small matters that feel, to its characters, like matters of life and death. It teaches us that human nature—our vanity, our kindness, our capacity for self-deception—has not changed at all. It is funny, moving, and deeply comforting. For anyone who loves the quiet dramas of Jane Austen or the social scope of George Eliot, this is essential reading.
FAQ
Do I need to read The Warden first?
It is not strictly necessary. Barchester Towers was written to stand alone, and Trollope carefully reintroduces the key characters and situations from the previous book. However, reading the short, poignant The Warden first will enrich your understanding of Mr. Harding and deepen the emotional stakes of the sequel.
Is this book about religion?
It is about the church as a social institution, not about faith or theology. Trollope was interested in how people behave when they are part of a hierarchy. The clergy in this novel are doctors, lawyers, and civil servants in fancy dress. If you are looking for spiritual exploration, this is not that book. If you are looking for a witty dissection of office politics in a very old, very respectable office, this is perfect.
How long is it?
Barchester Towers is a substantial novel, running to over 500 pages in most editions. However, it is divided into 53 short, snappy chapters. Trollope wrote to a strict schedule and had a journalist’s instinct for keeping the reader turning the page.
Who was Anthony Trollope?
He was one of the most prolific and successful novelists of the Victorian era. A full-time employee of the Post Office (he is credited with introducing the pillar box to England), he woke at 5:30 every morning to write for three hours before going to work. He produced 47 novels and numerous travel books, yet he always considered himself a civil servant who wrote on the side.
Can I read it on my phone?
Absolutely. The episodic structure of Victorian serial publication makes Barchester Towers ideal for modern mobile reading. Each chapter is a self-contained scene or conversation, perfect for picking up and putting down throughout the day.