The Last Chronicle of Barset

By: Anthony Trollope

Narrated by: Simon Vance

Length: 30 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

This last novel in the Chronicles of Barsetshire series involves Mr. Crawley, the impoverished curate of Hogglestock, who is accused of theft when he uses a large check to pay off his debts. The scandal fiercely divides the citizens of Barsetshire and threatens to tear apart Mr. Crawley's family.

Listen to the classics: download more titles in Anthony Trollope's Barsetshire series.

©1867 Public Domain (P)2007 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Bye Bye Barchester

I love Trollope and loved all the Barset novels. I read most of this on the page and listened to some while driving. The novel feels a little more repetitive than the others and, especially at the beginning, overstuffed with characters, some dropping in from the previous books accompanied by info about their past exploits. Even so, the central stories are wonderful, the characters richly described, and the entire novel filled with Trollope's psychological complexity and deep compassion for his characters. Probably not great if you haven't first read the others in the series. Small House is still my favorite. Simon Vance is always excellent.

Don’t Make the Last Chronicle Your First Listen

“It is my first experience of Trollope… I'm now in the enviable position of exploring the rest of this series, although in reverse order.” –Valerie, Heath, OH

I feel Valerie’s pain; I’ve done the same thing with other series. But you don’t have to. The most satisfying way to experience the Last Chronicle is to start with the first chronicle—the Warden—and then to work your way through the intervening four novels. “Work” is a misleading word, because it implies, well…work. Instead, these books are a sheer pleasure, all the more so because of Simon Vance’s flawless performances. And that pleasure increases exponentially if, by the time you reach this volume, you know Septimus Harding’s backstory, how the good Doctor Thorne ended up where he is now, or the history of the war between Archdeacon Grantly and Barchester’s bishop (and his wife, the real power behind the episcopal throne).

As long as I started by quoting a fellow reviewer, I think I’ll continue; Joseph and Valerie and Charles bring up points I wanted to make, expressing them as well, if not better than I could:

“Trollope is a crafty writer, giving all the appearance of just dashing off whatever he ‘remembers’ about the incidents of the current tale while all the time weaving together a very satisfying and well-constructed narrative that feels as much like reality as you could like.” –Joseph, South Bend, IN

“…it was very enjoyable and made me laugh out loud, even though there were a few characters needing a whack upside the head...” –Valerie, Heath, OH

“I cannot recommend this book highly enough, except that one suffers withdrawal symptoms after finishing it!” -Charles

I especially endorse this last observation.

If, like me, you’re daunted by a massive cast of characters and a web of familial relations, the Trollope Society has a handy rundown of everything. Unfortunately, while these lists are more complete than Wikidepia’s, like Wikipedia they give away the plot, describing characters not just by their relationship to each other—what I need to be reminded of every now and then—but also who they marry, if they die and when, etc. Still, if you need them, they’re there.

The only thing I’d add is what I’ve said in other reviews of Trollope. He has a refreshingly candid view of the characters he creates. John Eames, for example, while an estimable young man, has his weaknesses and is a hero, if indeed he is a hero, only by chance. Doctor Thorne, though probably the most gifted—or at least human—physician in Barsetshire, is no genius on the brink of a groundbreaking medical discovery. And Adolphus Crosbie, though far weaker and more self-centered than John Eames, is no supervillain. It all adds to that feeling of reality, of life as we actually live it day-to-day, that Joseph was talking about.

Trollope's observations of a Victorian Cleric

The narrator is fabulous. The story of Mr. Crawley never fails to interest me.

Memes

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So sad to see this one end

This series has been wonderful and I really can’t wait to listen to more of Anthony Trollope’s works. This narrator has been amazing so I will definitely look for more from him, as well.

Brilliant narration

Simon Vance performs a truly amazing narration of one of Trollope's best books. Vance gives to each character a distinctive voice; none is campy or too affected, and each is appropriate to the character. Highly recommended.

Brilliant narration

Simon Vance is a master of reading aloud. The different voices and accents give real life to the characters. I always look for books red by Simon as I know I will enjoy them!

Finale to a wonderful series

The series “Chronicles of Barsetshire” is a favorite that I have read many times. It has the calming pace of another time with witty observations and rich character development. I prefer the voice of Timothy West to this reader. Mr West seems to understand the characters more fully.

Top shelf

No surprise, but Trollope at his best! And Simon Vance is unmatched in his narration.

Long anticipated great pleasure, superb reader

As with all the other Barsetshire novels, Simon Vance made these stories passionate, suspenseful and more delicious than any group of novels I have read in years. I am now a really big SImon Vance fan and I am waiting for him to read Trollope's Palliser novels next! If you have any affection for mid-Victorian literature you are missing a treat if you don't hear Simon Vance's Barsetshire Chronicles.