Plot summary

Barchester Towers concerns the leading citizens of the imaginary cathedral city of Barchester. The much loved bishop having died, all expectations are that his son, Archdeacon Grantly, also a clergyman, will gain the office in his place. Instead, owing to the passage of the power ofpatronage to a new Prime Minister, a newcomer, the far more Evangelical Bishop Proudie, gains the see. His wife, Mrs Proudie, exercises an undue influence over the new bishop, making herself unpopular with right-thinking members of the clergy and their families. Her interference in the reappointment of the universally popular Mr Septimus Harding (protagonist of Trollope's earlier novel, The Warden) as warden of the hospital is not well received, even though she gives the position to a needy clergyman, Mr Quiverful, with fourteen children to support. Even less popular than Mrs Proudie is the bishop's newly appointed chaplain, the hypocritical and sycophantic Mr Obadiah Slope, who decides it would be expedient to marry Harding's wealthy widowed daughter, Eleanor Bold, and hopes to win her favour by interfering in the controversy over the wardenship. The Bishop, or rather Mr Slope under the orders of Mrs Proudie, also orders the return of Dr Vesey Stanhope from Italy. Dr Stanhope has been there, recovering from a sore throat, for 12 years and has spent his time catching butterflies. With him to the Cathedral Close comes his wife, and his three adult children. It is the younger of Dr Stanhope's two daughters who causes consternation in the Palace and threatens the plans of Mr Slope; Signora Madeline Vesey Neroni is a crippled serial flirt with a young daughter and a mysterious Italian husband whom she has left. Mrs Proudie is appalled by her and considers her an unsafe influence on her daughters, her servants and Mr Slope. Mr Slope is drawn like a moth to a flame and cannot keep away. Bertie Stanhope is a man skilled at spending money but not at making it; his two sisters think marriage to rich Eleanor Bold will pay off his debts. Summoned by the local clergy to assist in the war against the Proudies and Mr Slope is another clergyman, the brilliant Mr Francis Arabin. Mr Arabin is a considerable scholar, fellow of Lazarus College at Oxford, who nearly followed his mentor John Henry Newmaninto the Roman Catholic Church. A massive misunderstanding occurs between Eleanor and her father, brotherin-law, sister and Mr Arabin: that she might be entertaining thoughts of marrying the oily chaplain Mr Slope. Mr Arabin is genuinely attracted to Eleanor but the efforts of Archdeacon Grantly and his wife to stop her marrying Slope also interfere with any relationship that might develop. Finally, at the Ullathorne garden party, matters come to a head. Mr Slope proposes to Mrs Bold and is slapped for his presumption, Bertie proposes and is refused with good grace and the Signora has a chat with Mr Arabin. Mr Slope's double-dealings are now revealed and he is dismissed by Mrs Proudie and the Signora. The Signora drops a delicate word in several ears and with the removal of their misunderstanding Mr Arabin and Eleanor become engaged. The old Dean of the Cathedral having died it seems obvious that Mr Harding should become the new Dean, and he is offered the job, with a beautiful house in the Close and 15 acres (61,000 m2) of garden. However, Mr Harding considers himself unsuitable and, with the help of the archdeacon, arranges that Mr Arabin be made Dean. With the Stanhopes' return to Italy, life in the Cathedral Close returns to its previous quiet and settled ways and Mr Harding continues his life of gentleness and music.

Characters of the novel

[edit]The

High Church faction

Archdeacon Grantly, also Dr Theophilus Grantly, is the son of the former Bishop of Barchester, Dr Grantly pre, who passes away at the start of the novel. Married to Susan Harding, he has three sons (Charles James, Henry, and Samuel) and two daughters (Florinda and Griselda) and lives at Plumstead Episcopi. His sister-in-law is Mrs Eleanor Bold, ne Harding. Mrs Susan Grantly, Mr Harding's elder daughter and the Archdeacon's wife. Mr Septimus Harding is the meek, elderly precentor of Barchester and Rector of the church of St. Cuthbert's in the Cathedral Close. He was formerly Warden of Hiram's Hospital, but resigned in 'The Warden'. Mr Francis Arabin, vicar of St Ewold, Fellow of Lazarus and former professor of poetry at Oxford University. He is a former follower of John Henry Newman and adheres to the High Church faction of the Anglican Church. Arabin is sought out by Archbishop Dr Grantly as an ally against the evangelical faction of Bishop Proudie, his wife and chaplain Obadiah Slope. [edit]The

Low Church faction

Bishop Proudie, a henpecked, weak-willed bishop who is constantly influenced by his wife Mrs Proudie and his chaplain Obadiah Slope concerning the matters of the see. Mrs Proudie, his wife. A proud, vulgar, domineering wife, who promotes evangelical causes such as Sunday schools, and is adamant in eliminating high-church rituals. Mr Obadiah Slope, a wheedling oily chaplain who has much influence over Bishop Proudie and his domineering wife Mrs Proudie. Midway in the novel Slope decides that he will marry Mrs Eleanor Bold (ne Harding), and hence sets about courting her. Formerly Mrs Proudie's ally, he comes into conflict with Mrs Proudie over the wardenship of Hiram's hospital and as such is regarded as a traitor by the latter. [edit]Others Mrs Eleanor Bold, former wife of John Bold and newly widowed with an infant son. She is Mr Septimus Harding's younger daughter. She has three potential suitors in Barchester Towers: Mr Obadiah Slope, Mr Bertie Stanhope and Mr Francis Arabin. Dr Vesey Stanhope is the Vicar of Crabtree Canonicorum in the diocese of Barchester and a Prebendary of Barchester Cathedral. He and his family lived for twelve years in Italy before being recalled by Bishop Proudie on Obadiah Slope's advice. He has two daughters, Charlotte and Madeline, and a son, Bertie (Ethelbert). Signora Madeline Vesey Neroni ne Madeline Stanhope, is the beautiful younger daughter of Dr Vesey Stanhope, an Englishman who emigrated to Italy and then back to Barchester. Made lame by her abusive Italian husband, she is a cripple who needs to be carried around the house on a sofa, although it does not affect her ability to flirt at various party occasions. She has a young daughter. Ethelbert "Bertie" Stanhope is the only son of Dr Vesey Stanhope. An idling, carefree man who never settles down in anything he does, and who spends far more than he is able to earn himself. Under his sister Charlotte's advice he is asked to woo the beautiful widow Eleanor Bold.

 Charlotte Stanhope is the elder daughter of Dr Vesey Stanhope. She is the caretaker of the family and a good friend of Eleanor Bold until Eleanor realizes Charlotte is the primary instigator of her brother wooing her. Mr Quiverful, a clergyman with fourteen children who later becomes the new Warden of Hiram's hospital. Mrs Quiverful, his wife. Wilfred Thorne, the squire of St Ewold's. A bachelor of about fifty who comes under the charms of Signora Neroni. Miss Monica Thorne, his spinster sister of about sixty, who throws a party at their residence for the notables of Barsetshire.