Anthony Trollope Biography

(Novelist)

Birthday: April 24, 1815 (Taurus)

Born In: London, England

Anthony Trollope, an English novelist who lived during the 19th century, is best remembered for his ‘Chronicles of Barsetshire’ series, which consisted of six novels. ‘The Warden’ was the first novel of this series and it was also his first successful novel. He wrote during the Victorian times and his novels provide a rich insight into the politics, gender issues, and society of that time. Readers found his humorous insights into the everyday lives of ordinary people quite endearing. He authored 47 novels, two plays, an autobiography, a number of travel books and short stories, and numerous articles, lectures, and reviews. In his autobiography, he admitted that he had a writing schedule that he strictly adhered to and that finance was his main motive for writing. This was not taken nicely by the critics and writers of that time. His reputation as a writer suffered a lot due to this admission; however, during the mid-20th century, critics and readers rediscovered the brilliance of Trollope’s writings. Actor Sir Alec Guinness, novelist Sue Grafton, politician Sir John Major, screenwriter Harding Lemay, and economist John Kenneth Galbraith are some of the most famous fans of Trollope.
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Quick Facts

British Celebrities Born In April

Also Known As: Anthony

Died At Age: 67

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Rose Heseltine

father: Thomas Anthony Trollope

mother: Frances Milton Trollope

siblings: Thomas Adolphus Trollope

children: Frederic James Anthony, Henry Merivale Trollope

Born Country: England

Novelists British Men

Died on: December 6, 1882

place of death: London

City: London, England

Cause of Death: Stroke

More Facts

education: Harrow School, Winchester College

  • 1

    What are some popular works by Anthony Trollope?

    Some of Anthony Trollope's most popular works include "The Chronicles of Barsetshire" series, which includes novels like "The Warden" and "Barchester Towers", as well as the "Palliser" series which includes novels such as "Phineas Finn" and "The Eustace Diamonds".

  • 2

    What is the writing style of Anthony Trollope?

    Anthony Trollope is known for his detailed and realistic portrayal of Victorian society. He often focused on character development and social issues, incorporating elements of satire and humor into his novels.

  • 3

    How did Anthony Trollope's career as a civil servant influence his writing?

    Anthony Trollope's career as a civil servant provided him with firsthand knowledge of bureaucratic systems and government operations, which he often incorporated into his novels. His experiences also influenced his portrayal of social class and politics in his works.

  • 4

    What was Anthony Trollope's opinion on the status of women in Victorian society?

    Anthony Trollope was known for his progressive views on gender equality and the status of women in Victorian society. He often depicted strong, independent female characters in his novels who challenged traditional gender roles and societal norms.

  • 5

    How did Anthony Trollope's writing impact the development of the English novel?

    Anthony Trollope's writing is credited with contributing to the evolution of the English novel by introducing more realistic and complex characters and storylines. His works helped shape the development of the social novel genre and influenced later writers such as George Eliot and Henry James.

Childhood & Early Life
Anthony Trollope was born on 24 April 1815, in the beautiful district of Bloomsbury, which is located in the West End of London. He was the fourth child of Thomas and Frances Trollope.
His childhood was not a happy one because the family was always struggling with finances.
In 1822, he started attending the Harrow School as a day-boy. He was able to get admission in this school because his family had a farm in the area. The three years he spent here were miserable because he was constantly bullied here.
In 1825, he was able to get admission in Sunbury Private School, which was an elite school. In 1827, he attended Winchester School. However, due to the poor financial condition of his family he had to shift back to Harrow School in 1830.
In order to improve the family’s situation, his mother moved to America in 1830. There she set up a bazaar to sell British commodities and goods. However, the enterprise was a failure. In 1832, she wrote ‘The Domestic Manners of the Americans,’ which was well received in England.
In 1834, the family sold off their property in England and settled in Burges, Belgium. At this point, the family was completely dependent on Frances Trollope’s earnings as a writer.
It was only when he moved to Ireland that he started making friends and enjoying the outdoor life. He became a passionate fox hunter.
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Career
Anthony Trollope’s career started in 1834, when he started working as an assistant master in Brussels. His goal was to learn enough German and French so that he could be commissioned in one of the Austrian cavalry regiments. The very same year he used his family’s connections to get a job as a junior clerk in the General Post Office in London.
He spent seven years in this job and hated every minute of it. He had very few friends, his superiors were very critical of his job performance, and he was barely able to make ends meet.
When he got an offer of transfer to Banagher, Ireland, he readily took it up. It was in Ireland that his life and career took a whole new turn. He was posted as a deputy postal surveyor and his pay was quite good.
Anthony Trollope began writing in 1843 and his first novel was ‘The Macdermots of Ballycloran,’ which was published in 1847. It was followed by ‘The Kellys and the O’Kellys’ in the following year.
His career in the post office also took an upward turn when he was promoted and transferred to Mallow in 1845. In 1851, he was transferred to west England. There he began writing ‘The Warden,’ the first in the series of six novels that comprised the ‘Chronicles of Barsetshire.’ It was published in 1855.
In 1857, ‘Barchester Towers’ was published; it was the next in the series of ‘Chronicles of Barsetshire.’ It is regarded as one of his best works. The other novels in this series are ‘Doctor Thorne’ (1858), ‘Framley Parsonage’ (1861), ‘The Small House at Allington’ (1864), and ‘The Last Chronicle of Barset’ (1867).
Like his writing career, his post office career also saw a steady rise. By the middle of the 1860s, he was in a senior position at the post office and had travelled widely. He resigned from the post office in 1867.
In 1868, Anthony Trollope ran for a seat in the parliament and lost. He then decided to focus on his writing.
His ‘Palliser’ series, which consists of six novels, focused on the socio-political issues of those times. The main characters in these novels were Plantagenet Palliser, who is a politician and aristocrat, and his wife, Lady Glencora.
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‘Can You Forgive Her?’ (1864), ‘Phineas Finn’ (1869), ‘The Eustace Diamonds’ (1873), ‘Phineas Redux’ (1874), ‘The Prime Minister’ (1876), and ‘The Duke’s Children’ (1879) are the six novels that are part of the ‘Palliser’ series.
In 1871, Anthony Trollope wrote ‘Lady Anna’ while on a voyage to Australia to visit his son. The novel was published in 1874. The novel was not well received, but Trollope considered it one of his best works.
In 1872, he wrote ‘Australia and New Zealand,’ which focused on the good and the bad experiences that he had during his stay in Australia. The Australians were not particularly happy with the way they were portrayed in the novel.
He also wrote his autobiography, but it was published only after his death.
Major Works
‘The Warden’ was Anthony Trollope’s first successful novel and brought him into prominence. The novel provides an insight into the upper-middle-class lifestyle of English clergymen and effortlessly tackles the complex issues of social morality and human motivation.
‘The Way We Live Now’ is considered his masterpiece by critics. It is a satirical take on the rampant corruption that he witnessed in London after his return from Australia.
Family & Personal Life
In 1844, Anthony Trollope married Rose Heseltine, an English woman. They had two sons.
On November 3, 1882, he suffered a stroke while staying at Garland’s Hotel, London. He died on December 6.
Facts About Anthony Trollope

Anthony Trollope was known to be a prolific writer, often completing his novels at a rate of 1000 words an hour.

Trollope was a firm believer in the importance of routine and discipline in his writing process. He famously wrote for three hours every morning before going to work at the post office.

Trollope had a unique method of plotting his novels by using a gridded chart to map out the relationships and developments of his characters.

Trollope was an avid traveler and drew inspiration from his journeys to various countries, including Australia and the United States, for his writing.

See the events in life of Anthony Trollope in Chronological Order

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