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sherwoodreads's review against another edition
I don't think this autobiography is going to appeal to non-writers, as Trollope delves not at all into his emotions or private experiences, focusing on his outer life, as it were, as post office official, hobby hunter, sometime politician, and writer. His wife and children get scant mention.
But he talks a great deal about writing. For any writer who likes writers on writing, this ought to be a fascinating read. He gets into details about the frustrations of publishing by serial, and he also details the financial side, keeping careful tabs on what he earned.
It's a sobering assessment for anyone who thinks that a lifetime of novel writing will make them rich. He was more successful than most, but he had to work a full time job at the Post Office most of his life (and on his retirement, showed the hurt that so many do when he discovered the work place, far from falling apart at the idea of his going away, demonstrated that they could do very well without him).
While I, and perhaps other modern readers, will not agree with his assessment of his own works, and why they are good, they will find his honest discussion of his failures interesting.
Of especial interest is his assessment of his fellow nineteenth century authors. He pegs Dickens beautifully for his ability to make you care for unrealistic characters (caricatures, in essence), and comments gently on George Eliot's penchant for letting her philosophizing get control of her plots, making some of her later stories almost impenetrable. (In this he's kinder than Henry James, who thoroughly appreciates her mind, and the insight of her female characters, while pointing out that few of her male characters are ever much more than watercolors, or sketches of ideals.)
He predicts who among the well-known writers will be well known in his grandchildren's time, and who won't, with near 100% accuracy, and he digs his quill into false critics who pander to authors, and authors who pander to critics, and how such a craving for instant fame doesn't work in the long run, even if it garners a flash of fulsome notoriety at the moment. It's peculiar, how much of this translates over to internet interactions, as writers are anxious to get their names and books out there, sometimes pushed into marketing themselves by publishers, without having any idea how to go about it. Writers had the same predicament back then.
At the last, he startles the reader with an anecdote about going out of his way as he crossed the USA to meet Brigham Young, and his being turned from Young's door. In the anecdote Young comes off looking uncouth, if not mad; Trollope finesses his reason for going to call on Young in the first place. There's a definite sense that Trollope regarded Young as a zoo creature, to be reported on for the amusement of people at home, identified as he is as "polygamist Brigham Young" instead of "religious leader Young" or whatever. But again, Trollope is reticent about exposing his inner motivations and emotions. He even comments about that near the end, and declaims any interest in such things.
Reading this in conjunction with the Glendenning biography can fill in some of the lacunae; meanwhile, the writing talk makes it a worthwhile read for writers, and of course for nineteenth century novel fans.
But he talks a great deal about writing. For any writer who likes writers on writing, this ought to be a fascinating read. He gets into details about the frustrations of publishing by serial, and he also details the financial side, keeping careful tabs on what he earned.
It's a sobering assessment for anyone who thinks that a lifetime of novel writing will make them rich. He was more successful than most, but he had to work a full time job at the Post Office most of his life (and on his retirement, showed the hurt that so many do when he discovered the work place, far from falling apart at the idea of his going away, demonstrated that they could do very well without him).
While I, and perhaps other modern readers, will not agree with his assessment of his own works, and why they are good, they will find his honest discussion of his failures interesting.
Of especial interest is his assessment of his fellow nineteenth century authors. He pegs Dickens beautifully for his ability to make you care for unrealistic characters (caricatures, in essence), and comments gently on George Eliot's penchant for letting her philosophizing get control of her plots, making some of her later stories almost impenetrable. (In this he's kinder than Henry James, who thoroughly appreciates her mind, and the insight of her female characters, while pointing out that few of her male characters are ever much more than watercolors, or sketches of ideals.)
He predicts who among the well-known writers will be well known in his grandchildren's time, and who won't, with near 100% accuracy, and he digs his quill into false critics who pander to authors, and authors who pander to critics, and how such a craving for instant fame doesn't work in the long run, even if it garners a flash of fulsome notoriety at the moment. It's peculiar, how much of this translates over to internet interactions, as writers are anxious to get their names and books out there, sometimes pushed into marketing themselves by publishers, without having any idea how to go about it. Writers had the same predicament back then.
At the last, he startles the reader with an anecdote about going out of his way as he crossed the USA to meet Brigham Young, and his being turned from Young's door. In the anecdote Young comes off looking uncouth, if not mad; Trollope finesses his reason for going to call on Young in the first place. There's a definite sense that Trollope regarded Young as a zoo creature, to be reported on for the amusement of people at home, identified as he is as "polygamist Brigham Young" instead of "religious leader Young" or whatever. But again, Trollope is reticent about exposing his inner motivations and emotions. He even comments about that near the end, and declaims any interest in such things.
Reading this in conjunction with the Glendenning biography can fill in some of the lacunae; meanwhile, the writing talk makes it a worthwhile read for writers, and of course for nineteenth century novel fans.
stephxsu's review against another edition
2.0
Unfortunately I have to say that I liked Trollope and his works much better before I read this. It is interesting, no doubt--but the man himself is rather unappealing, thoroughly self-important, lacking in confidence, and vindictive. It is more a discussion of his works and his theory on work than a thorough autobiography. Still, of course, it is a must-read for Trollopian fans.
karinlib's review against another edition
4.0
For the last few years I have been trying to work my way through Trollope's works. I've read 10 novels, and now Trollope's Autobiography. [b:The New Lifetime Reading Plan: The Classic Guide to World Literature, Revised and Expanded|249186|The New Lifetime Reading Plan The Classic Guide to World Literature, Revised and Expanded|Clifton Fadiman|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388614382s/249186.jpg|241449] lists it as one of Trollope's books to read. It seems as though everyone has a favorite Trollope. The "books you should read" lists differ on which one of his 47 novels are the best. My personal favorite, still, is [b:Doctor Thorne|29151142|Doctor Thorne|Anthony Trollope|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1462528612s/29151142.jpg|690564] (the third book in the Barsetshire series).
Although Autobiography is not my favorite Trollope, I am glad I read it. Not only does he discuss his early life, career as a postal worker, travels and his writings, but he also discusses the best authors of his time (according to him): Thackery, Dickens, George Eliot. In different chapters of this work he says Pride and Prejudice is the best novel, in another chapter he says that [b:The History of Henry Esmond, Esq.|900765|The History of Henry Esmond, Esq.|William Makepeace Thackeray|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1347524887s/900765.jpg|2096110], by Thackery, is the best novel of his time.
Now that I've had a break from Trollope's novels, I'll return to his Palliser series.
Although Autobiography is not my favorite Trollope, I am glad I read it. Not only does he discuss his early life, career as a postal worker, travels and his writings, but he also discusses the best authors of his time (according to him): Thackery, Dickens, George Eliot. In different chapters of this work he says Pride and Prejudice is the best novel, in another chapter he says that [b:The History of Henry Esmond, Esq.|900765|The History of Henry Esmond, Esq.|William Makepeace Thackeray|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1347524887s/900765.jpg|2096110], by Thackery, is the best novel of his time.
Now that I've had a break from Trollope's novels, I'll return to his Palliser series.
jason_pym's review against another edition
5.0
Anthony Trollope is a favourite of my dad's, but even he said the books were good to read if 'you're having trouble sleeping.' So I really didn't expect to find a man who is likeable and funny, whose view of the world, other authors, attitude to life pretty much match my own. There's good stuff on how to write (or how to do anything you love, and be successful at it).
All in all an unexpected joy, though there is the nagging thought that that's because I've managed to become as tedious as he is in my old age :)
There's a great audio book version of this on Librivox read by Jessica Louise.
All in all an unexpected joy, though there is the nagging thought that that's because I've managed to become as tedious as he is in my old age :)
There's a great audio book version of this on Librivox read by Jessica Louise.
erinbrenner's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
For Trollope fans, this is a peek into the writer's life and Victorian life in general. We get a sense of the beliefs and social norms that inform his books. We see him judge his work as objectively as a writer can. We get more of the personality hinted at in his fiction.
An Autobiography offers writers even more. Trollope explains his method for getting the work done, even while working a busy full-time job. He shares his thoughts on the writing process, literature, publishing, and more. I was particularly taken by how he thinks about his characters all the time. They live in his head, having a life of their own, even while he works his f/t job with the postal service.
It's well worth the read!
An Autobiography offers writers even more. Trollope explains his method for getting the work done, even while working a busy full-time job. He shares his thoughts on the writing process, literature, publishing, and more. I was particularly taken by how he thinks about his characters all the time. They live in his head, having a life of their own, even while he works his f/t job with the postal service.
It's well worth the read!
sir_ehssan's review against another edition
4.0
Such a good book!
It's starts slow and remains a slow read till to the end.
But I most say, I learned a lot. Trollope was a man with high standards and moral.
Definitively a great read, but I'm not going to read it again other than some specific part.
The best part IMO is the third part of the book, where he tells more about his worldview and the business of literature.
It's starts slow and remains a slow read till to the end.
But I most say, I learned a lot. Trollope was a man with high standards and moral.
Definitively a great read, but I'm not going to read it again other than some specific part.
The best part IMO is the third part of the book, where he tells more about his worldview and the business of literature.
amandaquotidianbooks's review against another edition
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.5
This was an interesting mix of an autobiography. A bulk of the book is Trollope discussing the books he’s written (and claiming most of them are not particularly good). It was interesting to hear about his early life and career in the post office. He also discusses his writing process, how long it took for his literary career to be successful and how much money he made as an author, which is really cool. He also discusses his contemporaries like Dickens, Eliot and Charlotte Brontë and makes some juicy comments that were fun to hear. He doesn’t go into depth about his personal life, but it was a satisfying read especially for its length. It does spoil the following books however:
Orley Farm
Orley Farm
The Small House at Allington
Can You Forgive Her
Miss Mackenzie (vague)
The Claverings
Jane Eyre
The Last chronicle of Barset
Phineas Finn
Phineas Redux
Lady Anna