---

Early and modern critics have noted that Anthony Trollope (1815-1882), who wrote extensively on the Church of England, never clearly takes sides on such issues as Church reform or clerical feuds. This book shows that the author´s apparent ambiguity is in fact superficial and that a careful examination of his numerous novels, essays, articles and letters reveals that, as a Liberal, he severely condemned clerical abuses and supported a reform of the Church. He did, however, regard some reformers´ methods as excessive. Moreover, critics often disagree on Trollope´s type of Churchmanship. Although he clearly despised Evangelicals, he also satirized the wordliness of High Churchmen, but deeply admired Newman and the Tractarians. Ultimately, a chronological study of Trollope´s works reveals that from the 1860´s onwards, as he grew increasingly sensitive to religious liberalism, he started to support the Broad Church. The study will be especially useful to students of British literature, culture and religious history.

---

Hervé Picton is a lecturer at the University of Compiègne (France) where he teaches British studies. His research focuses on Victorian religious and intellectual history. He holds a PhD in English from the University of Paris X and has published several books and articles on Church history, R. H. Froude, Anthony Trollope and William Morris.

---