Bill Shubert
Review is for Barchester Towers, which is included in this collection: A story about the conflicts between high and low church in the fictional city of Barchester. This novel includes bishops, archdeacons, deans, wardens, chaplains, prebendaries, curates, precepts, vicars, canons, and probably a few other titles I can't recall now. Who has what powers and duties in this complex hierarchy is not always clear to me but the novel works all the same. The central problem is that a new Bishop, from the low church, has arrived and the high church clergy are up in arms. Will the Bishop and his loathsome chaplain destroy the wonderful services they have? Edge of your seat drama! But it really is pretty fun. As is common in 19th century novels there are some very silly characters for humor, in this novel that is mostly served by the Stanhope family, who care for nobody (including often themselves), and leave a trail of chaos behind them. The Bishop's party where the Stanhopes are introduced to Barchester society was hilarious.
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