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He Knew He Was Right

Anthony Trollope,

John Sutherland (Editor)

Discussion: Dramatic Novels

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Dramatic Novels

The Way We Live Now
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Sep 29, 2011 Elizabeth (Alaska) rated it really liked it

Shelves: 1001-books, nineteenth-century, author-trollope

In the marriage ceremony, the woman promises "to love, honor and obey." When asked to be obedient, Emily Trevelyan agrees to obey in all things except the one thing which has been demanded. Such is the point around which this plot revolves. It makes the novel more full of drama than most of his I have read.

I have said elsewhere that Trollope does a better job with women characterizations than most male authors, especially those 19th Century authors I have read. But even I did not expect this: "T In the marriage ceremony, the woman promises "to love, honor and obey." When asked to be obedient, Emily Trevelyan agrees to obey in all things except the one thing which has been demanded. Such is the point around which this plot revolves. It makes the novel more full of drama than most of his I have read.

I have said elsewhere that Trollope does a better job with women characterizations than most male authors, especially those 19th Century authors I have read. But even I did not expect this: "The lot of a woman, as she often told herself, was wretched, unfortunate, almost degrading. For a woman such as herself there was no path open to her energy, other than that of getting a husband." Nor this: "'It is a very poor thing to be a woman,' she said to her sister. 'It is perhaps better than being a dog,' said Nora; 'but, of course, we can't compare ourselves to men.'"

Trollope always has his sub-plots. It can be expected with Trollope that he gives us plenty of comedy relief. One of the many romances (and there are several) is one of them. "Hell hath no fury as a woman scorned" and the fury that follows brought many smiles to this reader.

As a young man, and for many years, Trollope worked for the Post Office - first as a clerk and then as a postal inspector. He wrote in the early hours before heading to his "day job." He is credited with developing and introducing the red letter box, which I believe still exists. It was with this knowledge that I read:

The post used to come into Nuncombe Putney at about eight in the morning, carried thither by a wooden-legged man who rode a donkey. There is a general understanding that the wooden-legged men in country parishes should be employed as postmen, owing to the great steadiness of demeanour which a wooden leg is generally found to produce. It may be that such men are slower in their operations than would be biped postmen; but as all private employers of labour demand labourers with two legs, it is well that the lame and halt should find a refuge in the less exacting service of the government. The one-legged man who rode his donkey into Nuncombe Putney would reach his post-office not above half an hour after his proper time; but he was very slow in stumping round the village, and seldom reached the Clock House much before ten.

I enjoyed this, but it's hard to equate it with some of his best known works, especially with either of the best of his two series. Nearly all of Trollope is a 5-star read for me, but I won't pretend that I think you will find this of that quality. For that reason, I'm giving it 4 stars.

Posted on the 200th Anniversary of the birth of Anthony Trollope (April 24, 1815 - December 6, 1882). ...more

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Aug 05, 2025 Cleo rated it really liked it

Shelves: classics, english-literature, chunkster-over-800-pages

Once again, Trollope does not disappoint. This time, his subject matter is somewhat deeper, as in an Othello-type presentation, he delves into the depths of jealousy and obsession, how it works on the human soul and the decay it produces among everyone it touches.

Emily Rowley meets Louis Trevelyan in the Mandarin Islands where her father is the English governor. They fall in love, marry and return to England where they have a son. But a visit from an old friend of Emily's father, Colonel Osborne ...more

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Mar 26, 2023 Theresa rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle

As always, Trollope provides an interesting narrative, an unusual one in this case. And I'm glad I persevered, considering the length. His secondary characters were the most interesting to me. I can't give it the full 5 stars because the Trevelyan theme did go on past the point of caring in the last third or so of the novel. ...more

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