The Bertrams: A Novel Volume 2

The Bertrams was first published in 1859 by Chapman and Hall in London. Anthony Trollope, already an established novelist by this time, wrote the work during a period of significant travel while serving as a surveyor for the General Post Office. The novel serves as a classic example of Victorian social realism, focusing on themes of ambition, romance, and the moral struggles of its protagonist, George Bertram, as he navigates the complexities of professional and personal life.

The design of the original volumes reflected the standard three-decker format prevalent in the mid-19th century British publishing industry, which favored serial or multi-volume releases to circulate through circulating libraries like Mudie's. Trollope's writing style in this work was noted by contemporary critics for its psychological depth and observational wit, though he personally later expressed dissatisfaction with the novel's execution, considering it one of his less successful attempts at capturing the public's imagination compared to his more celebrated Barsetshire chronicles.