Barchester TowersBarchester Towers
Score Classic
What it's about
As the Bishop of Barchester lies dying, a battle breaks out over who will take power in the cathedral town, involving the zealous reformer Dr. Proudie and his formidable wife.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It's Anthony Trollope's comic masterpiece of plotting and backstabbing.
You'll love it if you liked
The Way We Live Now
Middlemarch
Excellent WomenGood to know
It's part of the Barsetshire series but works on its own. Church politics have never been funnier.
By the numbers
- Readers65 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics30 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller2 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #205 of the 325 literary novels we rank
- #542 of the 924 classics we rank
- #1719 of the 3,057 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Thought-provoking
More by Anthony Trollope
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East of Eden
War and Peace
The Idiot
The Master and Margarita
Beloved
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Quick answers
Is Barchester Towers worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It ranks #1,719 of the 3,057 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 67.3 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Barchester Towers about?
As the Bishop of Barchester lies dying, a battle breaks out over who will take power in the cathedral town, involving the zealous reformer Dr. Proudie and his formidable wife.
How long does it take to read Barchester Towers?
About 14 hours (576 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Barchester Towers?
If you liked it, try The Way We Live Now by Anthony Trollope, Middlemarch by George Eliot or Excellent Women by Barbara Pym.