# Mrs. Van Siever — The Last Chronicle of Barset character guide

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

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** old Mrs. Van Siever, Mrs. Van, Van Siever

**First appearance:** 0036-xxxvii-hook-court

## Snapshot

A moneylender's widow whose blunt notes and blunter threats rule her daughter Clara, her business, and the tangled fortunes of everyone around Hook Court.

## Who they are

Mrs. Van Siever conducts her affairs in scraps of paper without greeting or signature, and expects Clara to marry the pliant Musselboro whether she likes it or not. Her weapon is not argument but menace: she promises to make Clara's life a burden, and she means it, while coolly managing the widow Broughton's money and mourning alike. Her grip on Clara's future sets the marriage plot in motion and links the drawing-room world of art and courtship to the grim counting-house where fortunes are made and lost.

## In the story

### [Mrs. Dobbs Broughton's Dinner-Party](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xxiv-mrs-dobbs-broughton-s-dinner-party)

The wealthy mother of Clara, described as awful but rich, with business dealings with Dobbs Broughton.

### [Hook Court](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xxxvii-hook-court)

Investor and creditor, arrives at Hook Court demanding payment, argues with Broughton and Musselboro over her money.

### [Mrs. Dobbs Broughton Piles Her Fagots](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/li-mrs-dobbs-broughton-piles-her-fagots)

Mentioned as having power to make things unpleasant for the Broughtons, along with Mr. Musselboro.

### [The End of Jael and Sisera](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/lx-the-end-of-jael-and-sisera)

Confronts Dalrymple about the portrait, demands its destruction, and reveals plans for Musselboro to marry Clara and take over the business.

### [Miss Van Siever Makes Her Choice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/lxv-miss-van-siever-makes-her-choice)

Opposes Clara's engagement to Dalrymple, threatens to disinherit her, and supports Musselboro as a suitor.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters/mrs_van_siever
- 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