Doctor Thorne

By: Anthony Trollope

Narrated by: Simon Vance

Anthony Trollope once said, "A novel should give a picture of common life enlivened by humour and sweetened by pathos." Trollope admirably fulfills his own criteria in this charming third novel in the Chronicles of Barsetshire.

Doctor Thorne adopts his niece Mary, keeping secret her illegitimate birth as he introduces her to the best local social circles. There she meets and falls in love with Frank Gresham - the heir to a vastly mortgaged estate and obliged to find a wealthy wife. Only Doctor Thorne knows that Mary is to inherit a large legacy that will make her acceptable to the otherwise disapproving middle-class society to which Frank belongs. Where fiery passion fails, understated English virtues of patience, persistence, and good humor prevail in this most appealing of Trollope's comedies.

(P)2007 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"One of the great English Victorian novelists....A sharp but sympathetic observer of Victorian social and political life." (Daniel S. Burt, The Biography Book)

Captivating

This book had my undivided attention for days- and that is unusual for me. Could not stop reading because the characters were so developed I felt as though I was always in the room with them. Sly humor and innuendo, so characteristic of Trollop is in full force. The narration was superb, too.

Delicious listening.

Simon Vance reads the humour between the lines of Trollope's classics in a way that keeps me wanting more. Many threads come together in this 3rd volume, and many also begin here. The rich smorgasbord of characters also offer a great listen, and re-listen.

Work of a comic genius!

So funny, intelligent and modern. Listetening to it a second time just for the pleasure of listening to the narrator. What a joy this was.

Truly loved this novel

Absolutely fell in love with every character in this story, actually every aspect of the story

As a Titan of the Written Word…!

…Trollope has few peers, and although the theme is dated, the personalities, plot and machinations are not. But, again, it is the prose and the eloquence of diction that delivers both humor and pathos with such elegance that makes this a masterpiece!

It All Works Out In The End

If you like Trollope at all, you like it all. Simon Vance does an excellent job of narrating this gently satiric tale of English country life in the Victorian era. Yes, the story is slow-moving by modern standards, but it offers a pleasant vacation from the pace of twenty-first century life.

The main conflict occurs within Dr. Thorne himself. Can he maintain his integrity in the face of conflicting responsibilities? This isn’t an irrelevant question for any of us.

But it does all work out very well in the end.

An Unabridged Pleasure!

It makes the people who know me laugh at me but I look forward to my 90 minute commute every day because I get to spend time with my latest 'audible' book and no demands from anyone else. This has been especially true for my readings of Trollope's Barsetshire novels, especially 'Doctor Thorne'. I find these wonderful narrations an escape from stress and care and I am grateful for their re-recordings. These new, fresh versions have excellent sound quality and a truly outstanding reader in Simon Vance. For those who savor 19th century English novels, nothing can beat a few hours with Anthony Trollope and Simon Vance. By the time I get home I'm a pleasure to be near again (or at least that's what I like to think).

Funny social commentary on Victorian England

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, if they like an acerbic version of an English romance

What other book might you compare Doctor Thorne to and why?

Any Jane Austn, because of the funny class descriptions threading through a serious romance

Have you listened to any of Simon Vance’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes and he is terrific in this. He does the women's voices very well.

Victorian Romance

Thoroughly enjoyed this entry in the Chronicles of Barsetshire. A romance reminiscent of Oscar Wilde, with an interesting cast of characters, gentle humor, and not heavy-handed with the moral platitudes like some Victorian literature.

One of Trollope's best

Hooray for Audible for adding this and Framley Parsonage to their library. Doctor Thorne is considered one of Trollope's finest novels. Simon Vance does a nice job reading. Now let's hope they add The Last Chronicle of Barsetshire.