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Completed	03 February 2007
Title	Doctor Thorne
Author	Anthony Trollope
Published	1858
Quote	"Had Frank known more about a woman's mind---had he, that is, been forty-two instead of twenty-two---he would at once have been sure of his game, and have felt that Mary's silence told him all he wished to know. But then, had he been forty-two instead of twenty-two, he would not have been so ready to risk the acres of Greshambury for the smiles of Mary Thorne."
Review	This is the third book in a series of six that comprise the Barchester novels. I like this book for the great descriptions of mid-19th century clothing and customs, which is an interesting insight into the way of life. It was an almost too-perfectly plotted story, though, with a perfectly happy ending. There was, though, one point near the end where I thought it would turn into a Romeo-and-Juliet sort of tradegy. The story really harped on aboout the British importance of "birth and blood" which, as an American, is something I just don't get. I, on the other hand, felt more regard for Sir Richard, who was a truly self-made man, from rags to riches. It was interesting to read of the relationship between the self-made men (Scatcherd, Dunstable, Moffat) and the so-called nobility (Greshamn, De Courcy). How about the character of Lady Scatcherd, who resents her husband's wealth and never felt comfortable with money. Lady Scatcherd "was standing at the time with her housekeeper in a small room in which she kept her linen and jam, and in which, in company with the same housekeeper, she spent the happiest moments of her life." Trollope is long-winded at parts, in the great Victorian literary tradition, yet it was a pleasure to read this story, and the Thornes are especially likeable characters; Trollope does such a nice job of bringing you into life as it was.

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