The Bertrams : a Novel (1859). By: Anthony Trollope (Volume 2): Novel (Original Classics)

The Bertrams was published in 1859, a period during which Anthony Trollope was rapidly establishing his reputation as a prolific chronicler of mid-Victorian life. While it followed his initial success with the Barsetshire novels, it was written during a time of personal transition for Trollope, as he balanced his demanding career at the General Post Office with his rigorous writing schedule. The novel explores themes of ambition, financial struggle, and the complexities of human affection, reflecting the author’s keen observations of the social hierarchies and moral dilemmas of the era.

The physical volume reflects the format of the classic three-decker novel, the standard publishing model for Victorian fiction, which encouraged readers to borrow books from circulating libraries like Mudie’s. The design and narrative style are quintessential Trollope, favoring character-driven realism over the sensationalism that characterized many of his contemporaries. Though contemporary critics of 1859 were sometimes divided by its sprawling structure and cynical undertones, it remains a significant entry in his body of work for its psychological depth and authentic portrayal of mid-19th century English domesticity.