The Macdermots of Ballycloran (Trollope, Penguin)

By Anthony Trollope

Book Overview

In the autumn, 184-, business took me into the West of Ireland, and, amongst other places, to the quiet little village of Drumsna, which is in the province of Connaught, County Leitrim, about 72 miles... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0140438009
• ISBN13: 9780140438000
• Release Date: September 1993
• Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 5.0" x 1.0" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

Insight Into Irish Classes of Victorian Times

I’m not sure what I was expecting but the novel turned out to be far more interesting than I expected. Well written as are all of Trollope’s novels. Sad story, sad ending. I wish it had a concluding chapter telling what happened to some of the villainous characters in the tale, yet the ending was poignant and perfect so likely best as is.

First novel a success

Anthony Trollope's first novel, and a good one. Set in Ireland in the 1830s, it tells the story of a proud but destitute family and their tragic downfall at the hands of a scoundrel. Myles Ussher is an English police captain sent to Ireland to help stop illegal whiskey making. Feemy Macdermot falls deeply in love with him, though he has no intention of returning that love. The locals hate him, and Feemy's brother Thady, when he learns of Ussher's merely using Feemy, kills him in a rage when he believes Ussher is abducting her against her will (they are actually eloping). A trial ensues and after some exciting intervals involving escapes, Thady is convicted and hanged. Trollope offers a sympathetic look at Ireland's troubles during this time period; indeed the "innocent" Feemy might symbolically represent that country while the unfeeling, spiteful Ussher is England. Trollope had spent a good deal of time in Ireland and knew the country and the people well; his use of Irish dialogue is natural and realistic. The trial scene is pretty exciting, and Trollope's broad humor is already clearly evident. The use of the dilapidated Macdermot mansion as the starting and ending point, with the main plot sandwiched inbetween as flashback, gives the novel a cinematic touch. The author would achieve greater novels as his career progressed, but this initial production highlights an auspicious start.