Barchester towers /

In this second of the Barsetshire novels, the small circle of characters in The Warden (Audio Reviews, LJ 9/1/95) has now expanded to include the new nominal bishop of Barchester, Mr. Proudie; the new real bishop of Barchester, Mrs. Proudie; and the bishop's unctuous chaplain, Obadiah Slope. Although the action ostensibly centers around the conflict between high and low church, the real struggle is between Slope, with weak support from the bishop, and Archdeacon Grantley, with weak support from gentle Mr. Harding. During all this ecclesiastical wrangling, romance thickens the plot as three suitors (including Slope) maneuver to win the hand of Eleanor Bold, Harding's widowed daughter, who, it so happens, has an impressive annual income. Although he can be long-winded, Trollope has here created characters as entertaining today as they were back in 1875. For total dramatic and humorous effect, however, add the fine narration of Stephen Thorne. As he reads, he seems to be having almost as much fun as his listeners. Recommended.Jo Carr, Sarasota, Fla.(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.