Fiction Social commentary Ethical dilemmas Social reform Clerical life Moral integrity
The Warden is a novel written by Anthony Trollope and first published in 1855. It is the first book in the Chronicles of Barsetshire series.
The Warden of this novel is the kind and noble Mr. Harding. Set in the fictional town of Barchester, in 19th-century Victorian England, the plot centers on Mr. Harding being accused of embezzling church funds.
Mr. Harding is supervising a will of a gentleman who passed away long ago, with which they must attend to a series of men as it was written. The church manages the property and with those profits takes care of them.
However, after a while, both the church and Mr. Harding are accused of outperforming the benefactors of the will.
"Were we to name Wells or Salisbury, Exeter, Hereford, or Gloucester, it might be presumed that something personal was intended; and as this tale will refer mainly to the cathedral dignitaries of the town in question, we are anxious that no personality may be suspected. Let us presume that Barchester is a quiet town in the West of England, more remarkable for the beauty of its cathedral and the antiquity of its monuments than for any commercial prosperity; that the west end of Barchester is the cathedral close, and that the aristocracy of Barchester are the bishop, dean, and canons, with their respective wives and daughters".
#215 in Literary fiction (this month)
The The Warden book is available for download in PDF, ePUB and Mobi:
Copyright info
The Warden by Anthony Trollope is believed to be in the public domain in the United States only. It may still be copyrighted in other countries. If you are not in the United States, please check your local laws to ensure this eBook is in the public domain in your country before downloading The Warden in PDF or ePub.
A modest man, a charitable trust, a public outcry. Trollope’s calm satire dissects media pressure, legal gray zones, and personal conscience without villains made of straw. It’s governance at human scale—and ethics without swagger.
In outrage cycles and viral shaming, the novel argues for due process, proportion, and the courage to revise a comfortable choice.
Principle over noise.
Debate that distorts.
Reform with care.
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Institutions work and marriage drawn with patient candid warmth.
We have 11 books by Anthony Trollope in the AliceAndBooks library