Castle Richmond by Anthony Trollope
Writing this review in September, Castle Richmond stands out
as my favorite book I have read thus far this year of 50 books read. I like
Trollope’s novels so much that I always buy the print copies and keep them. He wrote in the 1850s -1880s and his books give a wonderful picture of the Victorian era in England and Ireland.
This
book is set in 1860 in Ireland in the time of the Irish potato famine and
explores the ups and downs of the fortunes and loves of three families. Owen
Fitzgerald of Hap House, Patrick Fitzgerald of Castle Richmond and the widow aged
about 38, Lady Desmond, and her daughter Clara age 17 of Desmond Court. The Fitzgerald
cousins deeply love Clara and each was briefly engaged to Clara. Meanwhile the famine begins and is raging across the
land, while Patrick works to provide work and food to the poor. Trollope writes with great insight about the rivalry and mistrust of 2 Protestant ministers and the local Catholic priest as they set aside differences to save the lives of starving people.
How will the love triangle of Clara and her two suitors be resolved? Lady Desmond has her own lonely and impoverished life to consider while she struggles to find the right husband for Clara. Who will inherit the title and estate of Castle Richmond as evil blackmailers cause immense suffering for the family? The whole novel and especially the ending are brilliant and Trollope provides some humor and also his clever asides to the reader, when he makes comments as the author directly to us.
Do you read Anthony Trollope as I do? I just realized some readers might like to try one of his novels, a good one to start with is Barchester Towers. Richmond Castle is also a good choice. Who is your favorite author and what are you reading today? I have many authors I enjoy reading and Trollope is at the top of my list.
