13 - Mr Puddicombe's Boot

Step into the world of Anthony Trollopes fortieth novel, published in 1881, where a respectable Christian boys’ school becomes the backdrop for a tangled web of secrets and moral dilemmas. The school’s proprietor unwittingly hires a woman with a complicated life, entangled with both a devoted English scholar and an abusive drunkard from the American South. This richly woven narrative blends a poignant exploration of Dr. Wortle’s ethical struggles with a humorous take on small-town gossip, all while a romance blossoms involving the doctor’s charming young daughter. (Summary by Angela Rowland)