# Mrs. Grantly — The Last Chronicle of Barset character guide

> Mrs. Grantly in The Last Chronicle of Barset by Anthony Trollope.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Poor Mrs. Grantly, the archdeacon and Mrs. Grantly

**First appearance:** 0032-xxxiii-the-plumstead-foxes

## Snapshot

The archdeacon's wise and patient wife, who refuses to quarrel with her husband even as she quietly clears a path for her son's marriage to Grace Crawley.

## Who they are

Mrs. Grantly lives between a husband who vows never to receive Grace Crawley and a son who threatens to leave England rather than give her up. She will not pretend to wish the match, yet she will not turn her back on her boy, and her careful manoeuvring buys time the archdeacon's temper would otherwise have burned away. Her steady diplomacy holds the Grantly family together while the Crawley trial threatens to tear it apart.

## In the story

### [By Heavens He Had Better Not!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/ii-by-heavens-he-had-better-not)

More conciliatory than her husband, she argues that if the major marries Grace, the archdeacon will eventually forgive him.

### [III: The Archdeacon's Threat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/iii-the-archdeacon-s-threat)

Struggles to maintain family harmony during the tense dinner and later cries in her room over the situation.

### [What the World Thought About It](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/v-what-the-world-thought-about-it)

Questions the assumption of guilt, suggesting it may not matter whether Mr. Crawley is found guilty or not.

### [Major Grantly at Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xxii-major-grantly-at-home)

Reads a letter from Mrs. Arabin and discusses the Crawley affair with the family.

### [The Plumstead Foxes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xxxiii-the-plumstead-foxes)

Attempts to calm her husband and manages to avoid delivering his harsh message to their son by delaying the discussion.

### [Near the Close](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xlix-near-the-close)

Distressed by the family quarrel, she tries to mediate between her husband and son, visiting her father Mr. Harding for consolation, and opposes the archdeacon's extreme stance.

### [The Archdeacon Goes to Framley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/lvi-the-archdeacon-goes-to-framley)

Briefly mentioned as having discussed the matter with the archdeacon before his journey.

### [The Cross-Grainedness of Men](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/lviii-the-cross-grainedness-of-men)

Acts as a mediator between her husband and son, writing to the major to reassure him and lamenting the 'cross-grainedness of men.' She is skeptical of her husband's impulsive promises.

### [In Memoriam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/lxvii-in-memoriam)

Initially disbelieves the news but soon accepts it; mildly rebukes her husband for speaking ill of the dead.

### [There Is Comfort at Plumstead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/lxxiii-there-is-comfort-at-plumstead)

Facilitates reconciliation between father and son, and expresses desire to see Grace Crawley.

### [The Arabins Return to Barchester](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/lxxviii-the-arabins-return-to-barchester)

Accompanies the archdeacon to the deanery; gently suggests St. Ewold's as a refuge for Mr. Crawley; concerned about her father Mr. Harding's health.

### [The Last Scene at Hogglestock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/lxxxii-the-last-scene-at-hogglestock)

Defends Grace Crawley and persuades the archdeacon to support the marriage.

### [Mr. Crawley Is Conquered](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/lxxxiii-mr-crawley-is-conquered)

Kind to Grace and hosts the Crawleys at Plumstead, showing warmth and generosity.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters/mrs_grantly
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters