• The Warden: Timothy West Version

  • By: Anthony Trollope
  • Narrated by: Timothy West
  • Length: 6 hrs and 44 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (877 ratings)
The Warden: Timothy West Version  By  cover art

The Warden: Timothy West Version

By: Anthony Trollope
Narrated by: Timothy West

Publisher's summary

Exclusively from Audible

The first of six in Trollope's series of the Chronicles of Barsetshire introducing the fictional cathedral town of Barchester and the characters of Septimus Harding, the Warden, and his son-in-law Archdeacon Grantly.

The Warden concerns the moral dilemma of the conscientious Reverend Septimus Harding, who finds himself at the centre of a bitter conflict between defenders of Church privilege and the reformers of the mid-Victorian period.

His daughter's suitor, John Bold, is a political radical and passionate reformer who launches a campaign against Harding's management of the financial affairs of the charity, thus shattering the atmosphere of the once tranquil town of Barchester. The scandal is not improved when Harding's indelicate son-in-law, Archdeacon Grantly, leaps to his defence.

The audiobook is a charming social comedy and love story that portrays life in an English cathedral town whilst looking at the larger social and political issues.

The Warden was Trollope's first literary success which paved the way for him to later leave his career as a Post Office Inspector and become a prolific and much-respected author of the Victorian era. He eventually published 47 novels, many of which are still popular and well-loved today due to their timeless quality and parallels with contemporary society.

Narrator Biography

Timothy West is prolific in film, television, theatre, and audiobooks. He has narrated a number of Anthony Trollope's classic audiobooks, including the six Chronicles of Barsetshire and The Pallisers series. He has also narrated volumes of Simon Schama's A History of Britain and John Mortimer's Rumpole on Trial.

Timothy West's theatrical credits include King Lear, The Vote, Uncle Vanya, A Number, Quarter, and Coriolanus and his films include Ever After, Joan Of Arc, Endgame, Iris, and The Day of the Jackal. On television, Timothy has appeared in Broken Biscuits (BBC), Great Canal Journeys (across 3 Series), and the regular role of Stan Carter on EastEnders (BBC).

Public Domain (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about The Warden: Timothy West Version

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    524
  • 4 Stars
    224
  • 3 Stars
    88
  • 2 Stars
    28
  • 1 Stars
    13
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    598
  • 4 Stars
    97
  • 3 Stars
    31
  • 2 Stars
    8
  • 1 Stars
    7
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    413
  • 4 Stars
    195
  • 3 Stars
    90
  • 2 Stars
    22
  • 1 Stars
    12

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

The Old Man & His Terrific and Single Daughter

Along with some romance, this is a broadside of satire directed at the gentlemen of the press and of the law. Anthony Trollope beards the lion in its den with this story of the power of a self-important press to inflict great damage on individuals and institutions. Under the guise of public interest reform, a newspaper runs stories which result in the resignation of a decent and kind old man Mr. Harding, as well as the virtual shut down of a charitable, well run, old folk's home. While these are matters of no moment to the newspaper editor except as sensational stories which sells papers, there is real pain and damage inflicted on the innocent. One might conclude from this book: doing what is lawful is not always the same as doing what is right or just. I just love the way this gentle, easily guided, old man takes matters into his own hands and overturns the apple carts and plans of those who considered themselves better suited to guide him than his own principles.

Timothy West's performance of this work cannot be praised enough. He somehow manages the trick of capturing Trollope's brand of humor and subtle jabs and making it accessible to the listener.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

41 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A witty Story

This book was written in 1852. I was unaware of A. Trollope until I read a comment about him in a book I recently finished "The Invisible Women" about Ternan and Dickens. I looked him up on Audible and read the various reviews by readers and decided to give him a try. The book is a beautifully written satire. I enjoyed the more flowery language of the Victorian age and I also got side tracked noting the societal change that have occurred since the 1850s. The story is of Reverend Septimus Harding who got caught up in the conflict between defenders of church privilege and the reformers of the Victorian age. Enjoyed the repartee between the characters. Timothy West did a great job narrating the story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

20 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Marvellous Book

The book is simply beautiful and the narration is perfect. A sheer joy from start to end.
If you like Trollope, you must read this book and the others in the series. Timothy West is the perfect reader for this work. Brilliant!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

17 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent and Enjoyable Classic

This is my second book by Trollope and definitely not the last. Each sentence is beautifully written and frequently witty. I find myself fascinated by the ability of this author to put in words the human condition with all it's excentricities and weaknesses as well as strengths. I often find myself smiling while listening when he not so subtlely describes a character's feelings, weaknesses, fears, whatever. He cuts to the chase and says it like it is but does so in the most beautifully written way. I just love listening to Timothy West. I believe he is reading these novels exactly as they were meant to be read. I intend to continue interspersing these books in between lighter reading of mystery, murder and mayhem!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Read All Barchester Chronicles, Beginning Here

I just finished a five-month long romp through the entire set of Anthony Trollope's Barchester Chronicles. Each one builds on the last, with earlier characters forming the background for the protagonists of the day. The final book (The Last Chronicle of Barset) is perhaps the best, as he has rounded out his style and he does not give everyone a happy ending. The Warden contains a good bit of social commentary about the power of the press, and in particular the power of a celebrity op-ed columnist. As with all of the books in this set, the characters are vivid and their conversations wonderful.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Short for Trollope; just as good

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely! Timothy West is one of the best readers I've ever heard (going back to "Books on Tape")! Stories are leisurely and engrossing, and I both read AND listen. So much of mid-19th century events and culture resonate with today's world, and I see why Churchill is said to have always had a book by Trollope on hand. New to me, but so glad to have discovered his books. Get a feeling for them with the BBC movies or TV adaptations, then go to the books.
For me right now, Dickens has just a bit better writing, but stories are darker and more intense. Trollope has so many valid insights into different characters' personalities, a few laugh out loud moments, and vivid characters. I like reading them in order, and this is the first of the Barchester series and is one of his shorter novels.

What did you like best about this story?

Trollope descriptions of place and character are detailed enough (too much so, some say) to make you feel you're right there even though it's a long time ago. I liked this story especially because of the conflict with a newspaper and the "power of the press". Also, the dynamics of a small town and the relationship between church and its people is interesting.

Which character – as performed by Timothy West – was your favorite?

That's what's so great about Timothy West: he alters his voice just enough so that each character is distinct. He almost always reads as if he is finding it just as interesting as you will.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Too long for one setting, but because Trollope issued them in periodicals (as did Dickens), he recaps just a little of the previous chapter so you can continue easily where you left off.

Any additional comments?

I wish Audible would make it possible to find the BOOK'S chapters rather than the so-called chapters (really sections of the download because it was a long book). It's hard to find where I was or to find a previous chapter if I want to hear it again.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Hooked!!

I had not read any of Anthony Trollpe's books previously and now am hooked and working my way through them all... In my opinion, much better than Dickens. A thoroughly enjoyable "read" and Timothy West is outstanding. Recommended highly.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

A jab at the hierarchy of the Church of England

This was an interesting book but the satire is lost on modern readers. You had to know that The Jupiter newspaper was really The Times and that various characters were swipes at Charles Dickens and other authors and journalists for it to be amusing or even to make sense.

Timothy West does an excellent job as a narrator and I enjoyed the book enough to give the next in the series of the Barchester Chronicles a go but its not really grabbed me ... yet!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable solid literary stuff

Took me a little while to get into. For some reason I've never read any Trollope. It was a gentle book, and I was drawn into the story after a few chapters. Well narrated, although there were slightly strange gaps between chapters.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

An enjoyable listen

I enjoyed the prose and style of this novel quite a bit. The reader gave good voice to the characters and I especially liked his bombastic style for the newspaper articles and political pamphlets. His characterization of the warden and his son-in-law were just perfect.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful