Barchester Towers

Published in 1857, this second Barsetshire novel opens as a new bishop, Dr Proudie, arrives in Barchester with his wife and the ambitious chaplain Mr Slope. Their Low Church programme collides with the old high-and-dry clergy around Archdeacon Grantly and the gentle Mr Harding. Eleanor Bold, Harding's widowed daughter, becomes the prize in a contest that also involves the scholarly Mr Arabin and the lame, theatrical Signora Neroni. The plot turns on who will control the hospital at Hiram's, the cathedral pulpit, and Eleanor's hand. It is a comedy of church politics in a cathedral city.

Bound in gold cloth, blocked with a black, white and red design by Bill Bragg. Brown slipcase.