Doctor Thorne

Doctor Thorne was considered by Trollope to be the best of his works a profound examination of the relationship between money and love, as it shifts away from the city of Barchester to a more rural setting. Frank Gresham is bankrupt and in love. Unfortunately, the woman he loves, Mary Thorne, is illegitimate and broke. Frank's overbearing mother is against the match, insisting that Frank marry a wealthy heiress. Meanwhile, Doctor Thorne, Mary's uncle, knows a secret that could change everything - Mary is about to inherit a considerable fortune. But he wants the young lovers to make their decision unburdened by the knowledge. Will Frank succumb to family pressure, or go with his heart? The book is a testament to Trollope s belief in decency as a guide to living, and I think we are made all the better for it Julian Fellows