Barchester Towers · Chapters

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Chapter companions for Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope.

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Chapter 1
Who Will Be the New Bishop?
The chapter opens with the death of old Bishop Grantly and the ensuing question of who will succeed him. Archdeacon Grantly, his son, had been led to believe he would inherit the bishopric, but the political landscape shifts as the ministry falls. The archdeacon's hopes are dashed when he learns the government has changed, and Dr. Proudie is ultimately consecrated as the new Bishop of Barchester.
Chapter 2
Hiram’s Hospital According to Act of Parliament
This chapter recounts Mr. Harding's resignation from Hiram's Hospital under public and legal pressure, his subsequent praise from the Archbishop and the press, and the eventual passage of a Parliamentary bill that restructures the charity. It also introduces Eleanor Bold's widowhood and devotion to her infant son, John Bold the Younger.
Chapter 3
Dr. and Mrs. Proudie
This chapter introduces Dr. Proudie, the newly installed Bishop of Barchester, and his domineering wife, Mrs. Proudie. It details Dr. Proudie's background as a liberal clergyman who rose through political connections and his personal appearance. The narrative emphasizes Mrs. Proudie's despotic control over her husband and household, including her strict Sabbatarian rules, and notes the influence of Mr. Slope, the domestic chaplain.
Chapter 4
The Bishop's Chaplain
This chapter introduces the Rev. Mr. Slope, his background, character, and ambitions. It details his lineage, his time at Cambridge, his role as a preacher in London, and his relationship with the Proudie family, including a failed courtship with Olivia Proudie. As Dr. Proudie is appointed Bishop of Barchester, Mr. Slope resolves to become the de facto bishop by outmaneuvering both the bishop and Mrs. Proudie, leveraging his position as chaplain and his knowledge of diocesan affairs.
Chapter 5
A Morning Visit
Mr. Harding and Archdeacon Grantly pay their respects to the newly arrived Bishop Proudie at the palace. They find Mrs. Proudie present in the bishop's study—an unprecedented innovation—and are introduced to the obsequious chaplain Mr. Slope. The visit is marked by tension and mutual disdain, as the archdeacon bristles at the new regime and Mrs. Proudie asserts her authority. Mr. Harding, though personally indifferent to the change, is caught in the crossfire. The chapter ends with the archdeacon's simmering wrath as they depart.

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Who Will Be the New Bishop?

Hiram’s Hospital According to Act of Parliament

Dr. and Mrs. Proudie

The Bishop's Chaplain

A Morning Visit