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Completed	04 January 2007
Title	The Warden
Author	Anthony Trollope
Published	1855
Quote	"This man certainly was the pride of the hospital...The precentor delighted to call him his sub-warden, and was not ashamed, occasionally, when no other guest was there, to bid him sit down by the same parlour fire, and drink the full glass of port which was placed near him. Bunce never went without the second glass, but no entreaty ever made him take a third. 'Well, well, Mr. Harding; you're too good, much too good,' he'd always say, as the second glass was filled; but when that was drunk, and the half hour over, Bunce stood erect, and with a benediction which his patron valued, retired to his own abode. He knew the world too well to risk the comfort of such halcyon moments, by prolonging them till they were disagreeable."
Review	This is the first book in a series of six that comprise the Barchester novels. This book was dismal. And now there are five more novels in the series to read? Yes, I will read them. I am like that. Once I start something, I'm like a racehorse with blinders on. I did, though, like the descriptions of the English countryside, but there was much too much talk of the Protestant clergy, especially the ones with large families to support, and those clergy climbing the corporate ladder. It was shocking how they would talk about their careers and monetary reward, salary and perks, like it's a normal job and not a calling. It just went on and on. Enough already. I suspect that the clergy are central to these Barchester novels. We'll see. I did like the character of John Bull, though. John was the one redeeming feature of this dreadful novel.

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