"The Claverings" by Anthony Trollope is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story revolves around the entangled lives and romantic dilemmas of its central characters, particularly Harry Clavering and Julia Brabazon, as they navigate societal expectations and personal desires in a changing world. Their interactions set the stage for themes of love, marriage, and social standing. At the start of the narrative, we are introduced to Julia Brabazon and
Harry Clavering during a charged conversation in the gardens of Clavering Park, where it becomes clear that Julia is engaged to the wealthy Lord Ongar, leaving Harry heartbroken and grappling with feelings of betrayal. Julia’s practical decision to marry for status over love creates tension between her desires and the reality imposed by her circumstances. As the narrative unfolds, we learn more about the constraints that wealth and social expectation place on the choices of individuals, particularly in the context of Julia's impending marriage and Harry's decision to pursue a different path for himself. This opening section establishes not only the complexities of their relationships but also hints at potential conflicts and resolutions to come as both characters confront their futures. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
E-text prepared by Mike Mariano from page images generously made available by the Making of America Collection of the Cornell University Library (http://cdl.library.cornell.edu/moa/) and revised by Joseph E. Loewenstein, M.D., using illustrations generously made available by Internet Archive (https://archive.org)
Reading Level
Reading ease score: 80.6 (6th grade). Easy to read.
