Sir-In a recent note on a radio adaptation of Anthony Trollope’s Orley Farm, The Listener says, "When his fame as a writer was at its peak, he dismayed a large section of his readers by writing a most revealing autobiography." This is not quite correct, as Trollope wrote the autobiography in 1875-76, when his popularity was already declining, and it was not published until 1883, that is, in the year following his death. One of the latest commentators claims that the decline had already commenced: in 1869, and Michael Sadleir is of the opinion that Trollope himself was aware of it in the early seventies. It is therefore doubtful if the autobiography was, as is generally thought, a major factor in the loss of his popularity, although it was of course seized on with glee by his detractors. The autobiography, however, remains as one of the finest in the language and certainly is the most manly and modest. As for Orley Farm itself-some lovers of Trollope consider it the best of his many books. Algar Thorold, for example, says that "Cardinal Newman’s favourite relaxation was the reading of Trollope’s novels, and among them all, he is said to have preferred Orley Farm."
R. L.
ANDREW
(Kelburn).
(The view taken in our columns of Trollope’s Autobiography is supported by Dr. Ernest A. Baker, of Lordon University, author of The History of the English Novel, who describes the Autobiography as ‘‘an extraordinarily candid book that had a disillusioning effect on too fervid admirers by giving away the secrets of his workshop. It probably caused the long eclipse of his fame, which has recently been followed by a striking renewal.’’-Ed.)
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19480220.2.14.7
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 18, Issue 452, 20 February 1948, Page 16
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277Untitled New Zealand Listener, Volume 18, Issue 452, 20 February 1948, Page 16
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