About This Book

Published in 1867, this is, as its title implies, the final novel of the Barchester series. More than a novel of manners, this is also a well-made mystery. And its hero, noble and desperate Reverend Crowley, is one of Trollope's best-drawn characters.

Trollope (1815-1862) came from a family of writers. His father, in addition to various other pursuits, had contributed to an edition of the Encyclopedia Brittanica. For an extended period his mother managed to keep the family out of poverty by novel writing, and an elder brother wrote travel stories and light novels placed in Italy. Trollope's son was also a writer.

The author began writing in earnest while working as a surveyor's clerk in Ireland, and after a slow beginning he learned his trade well. His output was prodigious, and during most of his career he was able to live comfortably on his earnings. He produced more than 50 novels and numerous other works besides, working steadily and producing several thousand words each day. Trollope wrote no tragedies, instead, his novels are good, entertaining stories of middle-class Victorian manners and behavior that are as amusing and charming today as they were when they were written.