The Warden

The Reverend Septimus Harding, a gentle, elderly clergyman who loves church music above everything, is warden of Hiram's Hospital in the cathedral city of Barchester, an almshouse for twelve old men founded by a medieval will. The post pays him a comfortable income, while the old men receive only small sums. When a young reformer, John Bold, who happens to be in love with Harding's daughter Eleanor, challenges the arrangement and the newspapers take up the scandal, Mr Harding must decide what his conscience demands.

Published in 1855, this short novel was Anthony Trollope's first success and the first of his six Barsetshire novels, witty, humane portraits of clergymen and country society. Trollope (1815–1882) wrote most of his books while working full time for the Post Office, where he helped introduce the pillar box. Continue with Barchester Towers.