The Last Chronicle of Barset

the long version

The Last Chronicle of Barset is the grand finale to the Barsetshire sereis of novels, Trollope's magnificent portrayal of the professional and landed classes of Victorian England. The plot focuses on Mr. Crawley, the fanatically proud curate of Hogglestock already known to readers of Framley Parsonage. Accused of theft and persecuted by the domineering Mrs. Proudie and her self-righteous followers, he is perhaps Trollope's only character conceived on a heroic scale, and his sufferings reach a tragic intensity. Other familiar characters on the Barsetshire landscape include Mr. Harding, whose old age is movingly described; Grace Crawley, who becomes romantically involved with Major Grantly; and Johnny Eames, who continues his pursuit of Lily Dale but becomes entangled in a dangerous flirtation with the intriguing Madalina Demolines. Lady Lufton, Mr. Robarts, the Greshams, and the Thornes also reappear to play their final part in the Barsetshire drama. - Back cover.