The Small House at Allington

By: Anthony Trollope

Narrated by: Simon Vance

The Small House at Allington introduces Trollope's charming heroine, Lily Dale, to the Barsetshire scene. Lily is the niece of Squire Dale, an embittered old bachelor living in the main house on his property at Allington. He has loaned an adjacent small house rent free to his widowed sister-in-law and her daughters, Lily and Bell. But the relations between the two houses are strained, affecting the romantic entanglements of the girls.

Lily has long been unsuccessfully wooed by John Eames, a junior clerk at the Income Tax Office. The handsome and personable Adolphus Crosbie looks like an enticing alternative, but Adolphus has his eye on the rigid Lady Alexandrina de Courcy, whose family is in a position to further his career. Bell, meanwhile, must choose between the local doctor, James Crofts, and her wealthy cousin, Bernard.

Listen to the classics: download more of Anthony Trollope's Chronicles of Barsetshire.(P)2007 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Critic reviews

"One of the great English Victorian novelists....A sharp but sympathetic observer of Victorian social and political life." (Daniel S. Burt, The Biography Book)

Vance + Trollope = Perfection

Trollope draws insights into human nature from a story that would sound drab if described. But it's the writing and the complexity of the characters that are so compelling. Personally, I grew to dislike Lilly--I found her an overly smug priss, even by the standards of the day (about which I know nothing except my reading of innumerable contemporaneous novels). Likewise, her mother, with her overwhelming fear of interfering combined with irrational obstinacy (the latter as with Lilly), came across to me not as a sympathetic character, but as someone who fully nurtured her two daughters' self-centeredness (which is what I ultimately believe both exhibited in vast quantities). But many will disagree, which is one reason this is a great novel.

What more can said about Simon Vance? I've listened to many of his performances and he is astounding. If you're in doubt as to what to read next on Audible, just find something--anything--read by this performer and you'll be very glad you did. I have no idea how he keeps his characters straight and for each of them, just nails their personality with his voice and delivery. Truly a superb actor.

If you love Pride and Prejudice

Get this book now. It's pure pleasure from beginning to end, with one of the best narrators I've ever heard. Engaging, suspenseful and full of humor and tenderness, "The Small House at Allington" is GREAT.

Trollope packs a whollop

Outstanding. After having listened to "The Warden," I purchased this novel---slightly out of chronological order, but no matter. The characters come alive through the language and the narrator's versatility with different voices. What a pleasure, and it's very long, so it just keeps delighting, hour after hour. I have decided, on the basis of these two books, to read/listen to everything ever written by Trollope. I hope that will keep me busy for a few years.

One of Trollope's best

I have enjoyed most of Trollope's books, but his sense of humor truly shines through in this book. The characters in this book demonstrate how easy it is for people to misunderstand each other and reveals all of the pain and joy of passing from the awkward stage of a young adult into adulthood along with all of the bad choices that can be made along the way. The painful emergence of John Eames from what Trollope calls his "hobbledehoyhood" is beautifully depicted.

Well written, but unsatisfying

I have to say, after reading previous reviews of this book, I expected to find myself extremely satisfied at the conclusion of it. Unfortunately, that was not the case. Trollope's writing is hard to find fault with, and Vance's narration is well done (although, I am not particularly crazy about many of his female voices). I've concluded that it's the story itself that left me wanting. Although there were a few moments when I found I had tears in my eyes, there were also many moments of tedium, with in-depth narratives about charachters and their situations that had little-to-nothing to do with the main characters. I held out hope that perhaps, in the end, I would understand why much of this was included, but to no avail. The ending was also extremely unsatisfying to me; in fact, I honestly asked myself, out loud, "You're kidding me; that's it?!?!" Although I prefer happy endings, I am content if everything is at least tied up neatly at the conclusion, which it wasn't for me here. Perhaps, if there was a second part to continue this story, it would have left me with a settled feeling of completion. Bummer for me!