Selected Short Stories by Anthony Trollope is a collection of six stories that have previously appeared in periodicals. Trollope was a prolific Victorian Era writer with forty-seven novels and dozens of short stories to his credit. I have been meaning to read his work for quite a while. a friend with a PhD in English sings his praises and got me interested. I started with high hopes but quickly found myself entering the doldrums. It appears that my limited appreciation of English literature is contained in the Interwar Era. The writing is and portrayal of the characters, however, is excellent.

In previous reviews, I have highly recommended Dover Publications as an introduction to an author and his work. The selections cover a broad range of the writer’s work giving the reader a well-rounded experience. The price is always affordable so the reader does not feel like he is making a large financial commitment to a collected works. That same value is carried on in this collection. The formatting is well done and as always the introduction to the writer is informative and also provides an introduction to the stories.

This is a collection that for no concrete reason, other than personal preference, this falls outside of my reading interest. However, I would not have known this without reading through this collection. I have reviewed several Dover Thrift Editions and found them all well constructed and worthwhile. Had I paid the $5.00 for this edition, I would not have been dissatisfied. In fact, I’ll probably pick it up and try it again. Dover delivers on its promises. I recommend this book to anyone looking for an introduction to Victorian Literature. ( )

I received a copy of this collection from the publisher via NetGalley.

I am a big Anthony Trollope fan, but not particularly fond of short stories (as a genre).

"The Mistletoe Bough": I have read this before in a Trollope Christmas anthology. I would describe it as "slight". It concerns the embarrassment suffered by Elizabeth when the man (a ward of her father) to whom she was briefly engaged comes to stay. The circumstances surrounding the breaking off of the engagement were murky. On the other hand, I enjoyed Elizabeth's brother who was determined to study eight hours a day, but never got further than drawing up revision timetables - so true to life!

"The Parson's Daughter of Oxney Colne": The story of Patience (the parson's daughter) and her relationship with Captain Broughton. Thoughtful and very subtle on the nature of love, selfishness and motivation. Similar to the tone of a Trollope novel; excellent.

"The Spotted Dog": Julius Mackenzie, born a gentleman, but now living in penniless drunkenness with his wife and four children, is employed to compile the index to a scholarly work. The narrator of the story, who refers to himself as "we" throughout (apart from one short section, oddly) is the publisher who reluctantly arranges this. Trollope does a good job of revealing the man's character through the narration - he is cautious and ultimately concerned with self-preservation, but tries to do good. The form of the narration causes the story to be rather relentless in its tone, with none of Trollope's usual gentle humour. Indeed, it is a rather sad cautionary tale about the evils of gin. The Doctor, the author of the scholarly work, emerges as truly good and sympathetic. Compelling, although I wouldn't choose to read it again.

"Mary Greasley": Another rather slight story; basically an old man's hymn of praise to a young woman he was in love with (in a paternal sort of way, he assures us). Again narrated as "we did this" etc, and again from the perspective of a publisher, although the characterization of the narrator was softer. He criticized others for encouraging Mary's literary ambitions, but was unable to stop himself from doing likewise. I'm not sure whether Trollope saw it like this, but this story is really about the expectations a Victorian woman could or should have of life, marriage, a career. Enjoyable enough, although not a lot really happens.

"The Two Heroines of Plumplington": Set parallel to and in the region of the events in Trollope's novel "The Warden", this is the story of two young women, who wish to marry men of whom their fathers disapprove. Each father is rich and each proposed son-in-law has only his wages. This is a typical Trollope scenario, but the story was disappointing due to the characterizations. The fathers were reasonably well-drawn characters, the daughters less so (and Emily was insipid) and the two young men were underwritten to the extent that is was hard really to root for them. I think it was meant to be gently humorous, but I found it dull.

"Not If I Know It": Very short. A feel-good Christmas story of forgiveness. ( )