• 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
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Wonderful and Entertaining

This was my first Trollope and it will not be my last!

I’m not normally an audible listener, but thought I would give this one a try and I’m so glad I did. I thought I would just pick up the first book in the series and be done with it, but I soon learned that this is a story and the narrator that I will follow! If you’ve been thinking about reading Anthony Trollope pick this one up.

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Surprisingly good

I heard this was dated and only relevant to Victorians, but I thought it had a lot to say to today's reader. Trollope was very funny and sharp - much like Dickens for wit, but definitely his own style. Such a lovable character in the Warden.

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Amusingly Written

While the story had no moments that made me bust a gut laughing, there were suddle amusements throughout in the irony of the situations or the way the author decided to discribe the story. I enjoyed it!

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Brilliant satire on the early Victorians!!!

I hadn't read Trollope since high school. My daughter got me to watch Julian Fellows' adaptation of Doctor Thorne, (the 3rd book in the series) which I thoroughly enjoyed. That in turn prompted me to start at the beginning of the Barchester Chronicles. Timothy West is a flawless reader!! I've always enjoyed his acting and this performance was just brilliant. The characters are distinct from each other without being over dramatic. The nuances in the satire come through perfectly. Totally recommend this read for anyone who enjoys satire and a brilliant performance.!!!

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Fascinating tale of mid-19th Century Anglican church intrigue

Not sure why some complained about audio quality—mine was perfect. The British narrator is perfect for the role—you feel like you’re there in jolly old England. The writing is delightful—such a clear and colorful use of language with all the Victorian flourishes. The story is simple and compelling. The characters are well-developed. Loved this audiobook!

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This story is an absolute gem

The modest basis for the story is adorned with picturesque language and leaves room for the most spectacular characters one can relate to. They are complex and faulty,
Rarely have I read a book that elicited such heart felt sympathy for the characters.
It is a story of the triumph of moral virtue and humility.
For the life of me, I cannot figure out why English professors and teachers feed their students the direct that they do while overlooking this inspiring gem!
The narration and performance are excellent as well.

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Timothy West narration

The narration for this novel was the best I've ever heard! Bravo Timothy West for making the story come to life!

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Perfection

One of my favourite books, read so wonderfully by Timothy West. Anthony Trollope’s satirical pop at Charles Dickens as “Mr Popular Sentiment” is completely hilarious 😊.

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Story, yawn… Narration, good…

This is the first book in a series, which is the ONLY reason why I finished listening to it! This seven hour book could easily have been condensed into a couple of chapters, at most an hour long, as an introduction to the next book. Timothy West made it bearable, even at 1.5-1.7 speed he is easy to understand and does such a great job!
If this had not been on the Plus Catalog I would NEVER had used a credit on it and if I had I would have definitely returned it!
The reviews for the series is very good, so I am going to start the second book, however, if it doesn’t pick up, I will be abandoning it.
I do like other works by Anthony Trollope, so we will see…

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If you love Trollope...

then maybe it's' time to become reacquainted with this little gem. The narration was very well done. These Barchester books are comfortable old friends and I am so ready to jump back into Barchester Towers. Join me!

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