The Bertrams (1859) Volume I, Volume II by Anthony Trollope

The Bertrams was published in 1859 by Chapman and Hall, appearing during a period of intense productivity for Anthony Trollope. Unlike his more celebrated Barsetshire Chronicles, this novel was written with a sense of personal dissatisfaction; Trollope later noted in his autobiography that he considered it one of his least successful works, feeling he had failed to capture the audience's interest as he had with his earlier serials. The narrative explores themes of ambition, failed romance, and the struggles of the clergy, reflecting the Victorian preoccupation with social mobility and moral integrity.

The design of the original 1859 edition followed the standard three-volume format common to the Victorian 'triple-decker' novel trade. This format was intentionally tailored for circulating libraries, which dictated much of the publishing industry's aesthetic and logistical standards at the time. While modern editions like the one identified by ISBN 9781530800681 are contemporary reprints intended for accessibility, they aim to preserve the original textual integrity of a work that serves as a vital bridge in understanding Trollope's stylistic evolution and his self-critical approach to the literary marketplace.