"There are men who cannot communicate themselves to others, as there are also men who not only can do so, but cannot do otherwise. And it is hard to say which is the better man of the two."
The above is the first two sentences of "Ralph the Heir" by the brilliant Anthony Trollope.
He goes on to describe Sir Thomas Underwood as one of the first sort of man, who has many good qualities but lacks friends and the ability to make friends.
I am reading a biography of Anthony Trollope where it is suggested that Trollope's own father was a man like that. Honest, fair, caring, but unable to communicate his deepest nature to others. Also, Sir Thomas in "Ralph the Heir" and Anthony Trollope's father were both actively researching for and writing huge books which they never finished.
Book Beginnings is new to me, and I am linking to Rose City Reader who coordinates this Friday event.
Just share a first sentence or two from the book you are reading and you can join in too.
15 comments:
Just started a new book last night and can't even remember the name of it.
I haven't read Trollope for years and now you have piqued my curiosity about this book.
An excellent post. I know of several people, some of whom cannot help buy communicate with other and some who cannot do so. Thank you for sharing this and for stopping by my blog.
Blessings to you ~ Marsha
I'll share my sentence or two with you....
"I remember the day Avrum had told me in a spilling of anger and passion why he had chosen cremation. His last relative, a cousin, had been cremated in Treblinka, in Hitler's fiery purging of the Jews. Cremation was to be Avrum's gesture of grief, his last ceremony of honor to an extinct family."
From Shadow Song by Terry Kay
I have never read anything by Trollope, but I know we have at something by him in the house -my husband was an English major.
I reckon Trollope had most men summed up. Or was it just Englishmen? Have just finished Conn Iggulden's second novel about the Wars of the Roses, confusingly entitled 'Trinity'.
Oh man. I just started a new audiobook...and completely forgot the first words. Heh. But I will add this book to my reading list.
"When I was seven, I found a sparkling lying dead on a bench at the edge of the woods which formed the back boundary of our garden, that the groundskeeper had not yet cleared away. With much excitement, I brought it for my mother to see, but by the time I reached her it had mostly collapsed into ash in my hands. Mama exclaimed in distaste and sent me to wash.
Our cook, a tall and gangly woman who nonetheless produced the most amazing soups and souffles (thus putting the lie to the notion that one cannot trust a slender cook) was the one who showed me the secret of preserving sparklings after death. She kept one on her dresser top, which she brought out for me to see when I arrived in her kitchen, much cast down from the loss of the sparkling and drom my mother's chastisement. "However did you keep it?" I asked her, wiping away my tears. "Mine fell all to pieces."
"Vinegar," she said, and that one word set me upon the path that led to where I stand today."
Here are the first few sentences from the excellent book I'm currently reading, "A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent". It reads like a Victorian natural historian's diary, written by a woman in her old age who scandalized society when she was young researching and studying.....dragons.
It's great fun.
I still need to try this author -- so many fans out there!
Terra, thank you for sharing this book beginning. I have heard excellent things (online) about the work of Anthony Trollope.
Happy first day of Spring!
I want to meet Ralph!! :)
ENJOY your reading week.
Elizabeth
Silver's Reviews
My Book Beginnings
How interesting and thoughtful... the description of Trollope's father brings to mind a man I once knew—my husband's grandfather... "Honest, fair, caring, but unable to communicate his deepest nature to others". Such amazing man he was, yet so deep within himself... thank you for visiting me today Terra... an honor.
Cielo
Thank you so much for stopping by my blog today. I see we have a few things in common and I can't wait to check out your scrapbook books!
I'm your newest follower and will add you to my blog roll.
This sounds like an interesting book, Terra. I read Chaim Potek's book "The Chosen," years ago and it had a similar theme.
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