Barchester Towers. By Anthony Trollope. Illustrated by Edward Ardizzone. Illustrated Edition. Franklin Library. Franklin Center, 1982.

Anthony Trollope was a prolific English novelist in the Victorian Era. In his lifetime, he was beloved by fellow authors and readers, especially for his Barsetshire series–novels set in the fictional county of Barsetshire. His popularity waned later in his life, and subsequently his legacy suffered for many decades. But in the twentieth century, he had a resurgence as literary scholars came to see his works as emblematic of the period. In Barchester Towers, first published in 1857,  Trollope provides his best novel in the Barsetshire series. It concerns itself with conflicts in the Church of England through a cast of characters deeply representative of the Victorian Era. This illustrated edition pairs the text with illustrations by Edward Ardizzone, making it an engaging representation of the work.  

This illustrated edition is in fine condition. In the original faux leather, finely gilt stamped. Raised bands. Gilt spine label. Text block fine. Gilt edges. Decorated endpapers. Ardizzone’s illustrations superb.

A fine collector’s copy of Barchester Towers.