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Dr Wortle's School

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Dr Wortle's School

By: Anthony Trollope
Narrated by: Timothy West
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Can it be right to persist in a bigamous marriage? Mr. Peacocke, a classical scholar, has come to Broughtonshire with his beautiful American wife to live as a schoolmaster. But when the blackmailing brother of her first husband - a reprobate from Louisiana - appears at the school gates, their dreadful secret is revealed and the county is scandalised.

With its scathing depiction of American manhood, it's jousting with convention, and its amiable, egotistical protagonist, Dr Wortle's School is one of the sharpest and most engaging of Trollope's later novels.

Public Domain (P)2014 Audible, Inc. Classics Marriage
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The moral dilemma Dr Wortle finds himself and to which he responds in what I think most of us these days would consider an enlightened and compassionate manner must have been pretty revolutionary at the time - at least, Trollope's treatment of it must have been. I read another review, suggesting Trollope's attitude was 'compassionate' and I think one can't improve on that description. That's one of the great joys of Trollope's writing: his attitudes to a number of things are way ahead of his time and his characters, particularly his women, have credible intellects and he appears to value their opinions - compare Dickens, whose women, though vastly entertaining, are almost all either monsters or ninnies.

So: another interesting and enjoyable story and, as ever, Timothy West is perfectly matched to the material. The man is a master of this. There seem to be some titles still that he hasn't recorded...can someone from Audible ensure he record the remaining ones and that as soon as possible?

A situation no longer remarkable

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I am in awe of both Anthony Trollope's writing and Timothy West's performance. This book is beautiful, thought-provoking, surprisingly funny and simply riveting. I enjoyed every second immensely. What a treat!

Beautifully written and flawlessly read.

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Loved the speaking voice of the narrator bringing alive the characters for us. Undoubtedly we are challenged to question what position we would take under such circumstances.

Delightful book that challenges one’s sense of right and wrong

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This is a touching and, at times, humourous tale of a state of affairs which the press would be glad to exploit today. On the face of it, it is a light, amusing novel, which delightfully conjures up life in the school for masters, boys and the the women who support their endeavours. However it more particularly explores the dilemmas faced by Dr Whortle, as the institution's proprietor, as a clergyman and as a gentleman. Trollope treats the reader to the innermost thoughts of this most well meaning, sometimes misguided and, above all, intensely human man, creating a vivid character who is likeable for all his faults. On a deeper level, it makes clear that right and wrong, honour and dishonour are not as black and white as they may seem. The touches of humour are all the more effective because they occur - and disappear - again so suddenly.

Timothy West is the perfect narrator, changing voices so that the listener is always sure of which character is speaking and always keeping the listener's interest. I shall undoubtedly be buying more Trollope read by him.

I was always sorry to have to leave Dr Whortle's world and equally eager to return. An unmitigated 5 stars.

Delightful - with a gentle philosophical undertone

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A short story by Trollope standards but still the same length as a contemporary novel! Thoroughly enjoyable and expertly read as always. Loved it.

A Trollope Classic

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