The Vicar of Wrexhill
Frances Milton Trollope
Read by Angel5
A villainous vicar insinuates himself into the life of a wealthy but foolish widow, ruining the fortunes and happiness of her three children, until they begin to fight back. Published in 1837 by the mother of the better-known Anthony Trollope, this highly readable romance portrays the evangelical movement of the Anglican church in a shocking light that may remind readers of some of the religious abuses of the present day. (Summary by Angela Rowland) (14 hr 31 min)
Chapters
Reviews
Excellent!
sarahm
I have listened to most of the Anthony Trollope books found here. His plots and characters always have interesting aspects, but at some point I almost always become extremely annoyed with the endless descriptions of wills and inheritance-complications. When I saw the listing of a novel by his mother, Frances Milton Trollope, I was curious. I wondered how his mother's work would compare. In a broad sense the themes do seem very similar, as the plot involves a questionable will and an interfering local vicar. But to be perfectly honest, I found this work superior and more daring than most of the son's novels. The pacing seemed better. I don't want to give away plot developments, so will simply say that an understanding of how the vicar's hypocritical and controlling teachings affect his own family are absolutely as relevant today. Odd that this work predates Anthony's novels by some 50 years, and yet in a very real sense it seems more modern. Perhaps this is because hypocrites and control freaks are always with us. I must also add that the solo reader was excellent.
The vicar of Wrexhill
monmin
A meaty and satirical story about the ascent and dominion of a canting hypocritical village parson (with references to Molière ‘s Tartuffe).Frances Trollope paints a vivid picture of young people living in 1834 who are more lively and spirited than is often depicted. The sanctimonious vicar and his acolytes are also deliciously drawn, oozing unctuous sentiments which grated on the ears of the established Church of England parishioners and which are even more ghastly and amusing to the modern day reader .
The Vicar of Wrexhill
Terri
entertaining story with an excellent reader. she made the character mr cartwright really come alive. it is sad to know that clergymen till today are corrupt and detestable. however we shall still be persuaded that the truth remains and there are those who will be saved by it such as the character henrietta.
Freespirit23
would have emjoyed this a lot better if the reader was not reading a mile a minute...much too fast-I found it hard to keep up. for me much too fast a pace. for somone else it maybe ok. I just had to listen to the end to hear the villian Vicker get his deserved come-uppance!
Alice
A very enjoyable book, very intresting to listen to. The story about a rogue evangelical vicar who enthralls and brainwashes his women parishners with christian fanatiscism whilst encouraging hostile relations within families to know means but personal gain; keeps you entertained and has a natural easy flow and pace to it.
Melanie
A bit long winded and full of religious material that requires a knowledge of COE politics in the 19th century but an interesting story with interesting characters. I did not know that Anthony Trollope had a novelist mother. All in all a good listen and well read.
highly recommended
JaneC
Amazing story, amazing reader. No wonder Anthony Trollope was so talented being a son of such a mother. The only thing I regertted in the plot was poor Mrs Mowbray's death.
Julia D
Wonderful reader. Clear spoken and does a good job of doing different voices. Interesting story as well. There are some very nice characters and some very infuriating ones as well