This book got me in its grip early on, and never loosened its hold. Suspenseful with dashes of humor. ( )

[The Claverings] is one of Trollope's lesser known novels, and though I quite liked it, I can see why. It contains a lot of his common themes - contrasting those who work for money vs. those who inherit, an abusive marriage with a domineering husband, and women who have to choose between love and money in marriage.

In this novel, we're thrown into the action right away. Julia Brabazon is deserting Harry Clavering to marry the extremely wealthy Lord Ongar, despite knowing he's an evil person. Well, he dies early in their marriage and she does inherit, but not without being punished for her decision by being shunned by society for accusations made by her husband about her behavior during their marriage. Harry, in the meantime, has met a lovely young woman - Florence Burton - and he is about to embark on earning a living through her family's business. When Julia returns to London, alone and friendless, Harry will have to decide which woman he wants to spend his life with.

In addition, there are the usual side stories. Julia's sister is trapped in a loveless and abusive marriage. One of Harry's sisters finds herself in love with a penniless curate. And there are some unsavory characters hanging on to Julia connected to her deceased husband, hoping for her money.

All in all I really liked this one, but I didn't find it as special as some of Trollope's other novels. It is quite a bit shorter, though, if that appeals to you. ( )

For a Victorian novel, this is a surprisingly easy and quick read. Main character Harry Clavering falls hard for impecunious Julia Brabazon. She, however my, has her eye firmly on worldly goods, and marries the horrid but filthy rich Ongar. The usual complications occur.
In this novel Trollope’s usual humor is in abeyance for the most part. And nearly every male character is odious or rather fatuous. Not my favorite Trollope, but not a bad book. ( )

Is there a Victorian novelist who handles love triangles as well as Trollope, with the exception perhaps of Henry James?

The Claverings is Trollope at his finest. With his usual skill, he presents us with characters who are all flawed and therefore human, led by greed, power, rank, status, and sheer narcissism; at the same time, however, Trollope is a skillful writer, able to dig deep into the psychological makeup of his characters to provide compelling reasons for their actions, and also elicit a sympathy for even the most grotesque deeds.

Harry Clavering finds himself in an awkward position: two years ago, he was jilted by his first love, Julia Brabazon, so that she could make a more financially advantageous marriage to Lord Ongar. When Julia returns—as Lady Ongar, after the death of her much older (and horribly unjust) husband—Harry has already pledged himself to another woman, Florence Burton.

The one who got away returns, then, and sets The Claverings into motion, a novel with a cast of characters as diverse as a Russian spy, a belligerent and lowly curate, and a captain whose answer to matters of the heart is almost always extortion. To give any more away would spoil the meticulous structure of the novel, where Trollope reveals things and always remains in command of his reader.

The Claverings may well be the best place to begin with Trollope; sadly, however, it also seems to be one of the most under-read of his novels. ( )

I'm a sucker for Trollope, so of course I enjoyed this book.
Trollope has a great eye for the detail of his characters. While the descriptions are rooted in his 19th century England, I have no trouble seeing echoes of those characteristics in people I mix with today.
Great stuff.
Read October 2017 ( )