VINTAGE CLASSICS : DOCTOR THORNE – ANTHONY TROLLOPE

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