Rachel Ray

Anthony TrollopeJul 2015

3.2

Word count: 171K words
Chapters: 33

Summary

Oh, Dolly, do not speak with that terrible voice, as though the world were coming to the end,'' she said, in answer to the first note of objurgation that was uttered; but the notes that came afterwards were so much more terrible, so much more severe, that Rachel found herself quite unable to stop them by any would-be joking tone.

Editor's review

Rachel Ray is one of Trollope's often underrated novels of provincial life, centering on the situation of the young woman Rachel as she navigates family pressure, friction between religious factions, and her choice in love and marriage. The fierce opposition of Dolly in the opening scene already reveals the book's characteristic mode: conflict is driven not by dramatic events but by the gradual accumulation of words, face-saving, prejudice, and well-meant misunderstanding among relatives. Trollope's narration carries a gentle irony, capturing both the trivialities of small-town social life and the genuine difficulties of the characters within it. For readers familiar with the Barsetshire series, this novel fills in a more everyday, more domestic side of his work; for first-time readers, it requires adjusting to its slow-burning pace and extensive dialogue. Its value lies in portraying, with restrained technique, how ordinary people's choices are shaped by their environment—not intense to read, yet lingering in the mind.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy Victorian English fiction and provincial-life subjects
Readers who appreciate gentle irony and finely observed family dialogue
Readers interested in women's marriage choices and family pressure
Trollope readers who want to fill in his non-series novels

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer strong plot, fast pacing, or suspenseful conflict
Readers unaccustomed to lengthy dialogue and slow-burning narration
Readers expecting explicit social critique rather than everyday depiction

Reading tips

First get clear on the relationships and positions of the main characters—Rachel, Dolly, and the others—before entering the dialogue, or you may get lost among the names and quarrels.
Treat the opening family quarrel as the entry point for understanding the book's tone, and notice how words create pressure rather than merely following the plot.
Read one or two chapters a day to maintain continuity with the details of provincial social life; there is no need to rush through.
After finishing, revisit the key conversations and consider how much of the characters' choices stem from their own will and how much from their environment and relatives' expectations.

版权信息
Vol. I.
CHAPTER I.
CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER IV.
CHAPTER V.
CHAPTER VI.
CHAPTER VII.
CHAPTER VIII.
CHAPTER IX.
CHAPTER X.
CHAPTER XI.
CHAPTER XII.
CHAPTER XIII.
CHAPTER XIV.
CHAPTER XV.
Vol.Ⅱ.
CHAPTER I.
CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER IV.
CHAPTER V.
CHAPTER VI.
CHAPTER VII.
CHAPTER VIII.
CHAPTER IX.
CHAPTER X.
CHAPTER XI.
CHAPTER XII.
CHAPTER XIII.
CHAPTER XIV.
CHAPTER XV.

FAQ

Is this book suitable for someone reading Trollope for the first time?

It can serve as an introduction, but it is not a work that wins through strong plot. If you are used to slow-paced family and provincial narratives, you can start here; if you would rather begin with his representative series, you might choose a better-known work first and come back to this one later.

What is the main conflict of the story?

The core revolves around Rachel's difficulties amid family opposition, differences between religious factions, and her choice in love and marriage. Dolly's fierce words in the opening already point to the pressure exerted on Rachel by relatives' opinions; the subsequent conflicts arise more from everyday relationships than from external adventures.

Why is there so much dialogue?

Trollope often reveals character, position, and shifts in relationships through the way people speak. The abundant dialogue is not idle filler; it allows family pressure, social prejudice, and the characters' kindness or stubbornness to emerge naturally. When reading, pay attention to tone—it matters more than merely following events.

What if it feels trivial to read?

This is normal for this kind of provincial novel. Adjust your expectations and do not treat triviality as an obstacle but as material for observing the characters' circumstances; if you still find it hard going, slow down, read only one or two chapters at a time, and focus on changes in the characters' relationships.

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About the author

Anthony Trollope Author

Anthony Trollope was a nineteenth-century English writer. Public information about his background is limited, but three of his works are included in our collection, commonly categorized under inspirational growth. His representative novel Barchester Towers is set in the fictional town of Barchester and depicts the network of relationships within the church and local society; Phineas Finn, the Irish Member follows the political experiences and personal choices of an Irish MP; and Rachel Ray focuses on the daily life and moral dilemmas of ordinary people. Trollope's style is plain and delicate, and he excels at portraying social groups through multi-stranded narratives, presenting characters' growth and choices within seemingly trivial everyday matters. His work has had a lasting influence on later realist fiction.