Weihnachten auf Thompson Hall

by Anthony Trollope

Dass Brown am Abend vor Weihnachten in einem Pariser Hotel mit Husten krank im Bett liegt, kommt ihm das nicht ganz ungelegen: Seine Frau wollte dieses Jahr unbedingt im Kreise der Großfamilie auf dem englischen Familiensitz feiern, doch er hat ganz und gar keine Lust, am kommenden Tag früh dorthin aufzubrechen. Mrs. Brown will keine Ausflüchte gelten lassen, und damit ihr Mann rasch wieder zu Kräften kommt, verspricht sie ihm einen Senfwickel, der seinen Husten mildern soll. Doch woher mitten in der Nacht in einem fremden Hotel Senf nehmen? Mrs. Brown irrt durch die dunklen Gänge, doch als es ihr endlich gelingt, den Senfwickel anzulegen, erlebt sie eine Überraschung …

Genres: Christmas, Classics, Fiction, Audiobook, Short Stories, Humor, Victorian

96 pages, Hardcover

First published December 21, 1861

About the author

Anthony Trollope became one of the most successful, prolific and respected English novelists of the Victorian era. Some of Trollope's best-loved works, known as the Chronicles of Barsetshire, revolve around the imaginary county of Barsetshire; he also wrote penetrating novels on political, social, and gender issues and conflicts of his day.

Trollope has always been a popular novelist. Noted fans have included Sir Alec Guinness (who never travelled without a Trollope novel), former British Prime Ministers Harold Macmillan and Sir John Major, economist John Kenneth Galbraith, American novelists Sue Grafton and Dominick Dunne and soap opera writer Harding Lemay. Trollope's literary reputation dipped somewhat during the last years of his life, but he regained the esteem of critics by the mid-twentieth century.
See also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_...

Reviews

[Sheri · Rating 1 out of 5]

Many reviewers found this humorous but I found it drudgingly uneventful. A short Chapter a Day listen that I only stuck out because it was so short.

[H (trying to keep up with GR friends) Balikov · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the last time Trollope would write about Christmas (1882), but not the first. (See Christmas at Kirkby Cottage)

Though Thompson Hall is in the title, most of the action takes place in Paris where Mrs. Brown and her husband have stopped to rest and give Mr. Brown a moment to rid himself of a cold and sore throat that has afflicted him greatly. First, what this book isn’t.

It is not a Christmas story, it just occurs near enough to Christmas to make getting somewhere urgent.
It is not a satire, though it is intended to be humorous.

Trollope treats Mrs. Brown much in the same way that Groucho Marx treated Margaret Dumont. “She was a large woman, with a commanding bust, thought by some to be handsome, after the manner of Juno. But with strangers there was a certain severity of manner about her,—a fortification, as it were, of her virtue against all possible attacks,—a declared determination to maintain, at all points, the beautiful character of a British matron, which, much as it had been appreciated at Thompson Hall, had met with some illnatured criticism among French men and women. At Pau she had been called La Fiere Anglaise. The nanie had reached her own ears and those of her husband. He had been much annoyed, but she had taken it in good part,—had, indeed, been somewhat proud of the title,—and had endeavoured to live up to it. With her husband she could, on occasion, be soft, but she was of opinion that with other men a British matron should be stern.”

It may be that I need to be better attuned to Victorian humor and sensibilities, or that I was disappointed that Trollope wasn't Dickens. In sum, this didn’t provide a happy experience and I am glad that I read it AFTER Christmas.

[Bill on GR Sabbatical · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this mild farce, my first Trollope, relating an embarrassing incident experienced by a "Mr. and Mrs. Brown" travelling from France to her family's home in England at Christmas. Reminiscent of P.G. Wodehouse and Jerome K. Jerome, the free LibriVox audiobook was performed excellently by Arnold Banner.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice change of pace during this hectic season. I enjoyed this visit to Victorian England in what is in some ways a Christmas story, but in more ways is just a lot of period fun. Trollope is always a keeper.

[Ellery Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun little Christmas farce. In the midst of a cold winter, Mr. and Mrs. Brown travel from their usual Christmas spot in the south of France up to Paris, where the weather is cold and nasty. Mrs. Brown wants to continue north to England so she can spend Christmas at her family’s estate of Thompson Hall, but Mr. Brown is complaining of a sore throat. An accident occurs, and we’re unsure if they’ll make it at all.

It could be taken as a thoroughly modern tale, the way we go to great lengths to meet our holiday obligations, how often they go horridly wrong, and how they live on as family stories to laugh about year after year!

This is only my second Trollope experience, and I’m looking forward to more. I'm betting he'll be incapable of disappointing me.

[Gabril · Rating 4 out of 5]

Metti un viaggio verso Thompson Hall, una sosta in hotel a Parigi, una signora inglese molto dignitosa, un mal di gola alquanto pretestuoso, un vasetto di senape da sottrarre nella notte, quindi un misterioso ospite ... e la combinazione che ne trae la penna di Trollope è la gustosa ilare trama di questo breve racconto natalizio.

[Shiloah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful! Hilarious! I enjoyed every second of this short story.

[Julie Durnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great comedy of errors with a Christmas theme!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a delightful story about the yearning to be home for Christmas and the blunders that hinder along the way. I loved Trollope's writing style and the way he explained the minute thoughts that pass through a character's head in times of stress. I read this story in the Christmas Stories Everyman's Pocket Classics, but wanted to highlight this lovely story and make sure it didn't get forgotten in a potentially lackluster anthology.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered this little novella by Trollope accidentally, but I’m glad I found it. It was a bit predictable, but totally hilarious. I’m looking forward to reading more of this author’s work in the future.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely hilarious holiday novella by Anthony Trollope... full of Victorian miscommunication and mishaps and set primarily in a single evening in a Parisian hotel where a couple is overnighting on route back to Thompson Hall for Christmas. Listened too it while prepping festive foods, the audiobook was free on youtube and just under 2 hours long.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this as an audiobook. The first three chapters had me shaking with laughter, and although the ending wasn’t as strong as it could have been, it ended very nicely with all ends tied up.

12/02/21 Re-read for the third time and laughed just as much as the first time. This may be my favorite piece by Anthony Trollope.

[Flybyreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most hilarious, well-written Christmas stories ever! I laughed so hard reading this, it warmed my insides on a cold morning and left a lingering cozy feeling. Loved it, I cannot wait to read more of Trollope’s Christmas stories.

[Willow · Rating 4 out of 5]

{Second reading, December 2023}
Held up just as well as I'd hoped--quite enjoyable and mildly chortlesome. One I'd enjoy reading aloud to a small band of cheery, appreciative relatives some wintry evening, sharing a good laugh amid cookies and cider. My sisters, for sure, need to read this.

{Original review, December 2021}
How funny! This madcap adventure stems from one unfortunate incident that is made worse and worse by untruthfulness. It's like the story you might tell your kids to illustrate how a lie grows and grows until you're swallowed up in it. Let this be a lesson to you, kids! 😄

But children probably won't like it much; just people who like old-fashioned short stories with the subtle humor of crazy midnight mishaps involving beards and mustard plasters.

Despite growing somewhat predictable, it was amusing and enjoyable, eliciting several chuckles and leaving me with a grin as it ended. 

[Claude · Rating 3 out of 5]

For some reason, I have trouble relating to Trollope. I get bored very easily. I guess that in this case, I got intimidated by the name, which is why I gave it 3 stars.
To be perfectly honest, I got so bored that I could have given only one or two. I must be too thick to perceive the humour.

[Hope · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although it takes place at Christmastime, the time of year is not integral to the story. More light-hearted than Trollope's usual fare. I chuckled throughout, but thought the ending was a bit weak.

[Iza Brekilien · Rating 5 out of 5]

Better than his Christmas at Kirby Cottage, that I already loved reading earlier this month.
This short story is a comedy of errors, not so much about Christmas as the title infers as happening around Christmas time, with a family gathering at the end. This was absolutely hilarious. I think I'll have to quit reading Trollope on my kindle when I can't sleep because it's hard to refrain from laughing out loud ! Finding out what the characters thought when everything occurred was delightful.
I highly recommend it, even if you don't read it at Christmas !

[Carol Bakker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, shoot. I have read this before, recent enough to mostly remember the story. It was good enough, but not worthy of my typical Trollope applause.

The best part was that much of my reading has been both heavy and dark. I needed a palate cleanser that was light and short and — well I hate to use this word — mindless. This story achieved those aims.

[Laura (Reading is a Doing Word) · Rating 3 out of 5]

An amusing but slightly farcical story of a mishap with mustard on the way to a family Christmas. Entertaining.

[Jersy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Frustrating conflict and characters. Not my sense of humor. Repetitive and slow for such a short book.
What a shame, I usually really enjoy Trollope.

[Kristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was not what I was expecting but I just loved it! Trollope is such fun.

[Anne-Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mrs Brown is beside herself with joy. Her family are gathering at Thompson Hall in Stratford-le-Bow for Christmas to meet her younger sister’s fiancé. For the first time in eight years, she will be spending Christmas in England instead of France and is eager to arrive in time for Christmas Eve. Her husband, however, is less keen. He has a sore throat and insists on stopping off at the Grand Hotel in Paris on the way home. After clambering into bed, Mr Brown asks for some mustard to ease his painful throat. Determined to help her ailing husband, Mrs Brown ventures forth to fulfil this request and ease his suffering. Little does she realise that this kind act will have the most embarrassing consequences.
Anthony Trollope paints his characters in this story in such an endearing way that you can’t help loving all of them and the short time you spend with them. This is a quick read and it will make you laugh.

[Benjamin Stahl · Rating 3 out of 5]

During a severe Parisian winter, Mr and Mrs Brown, despite the former's protestations for having a sore throat, make their way to England in order to celebrate Christmas at the Thompsons. Their journey, however, is not without quite funny incident. Christmas at Thompson Hall is a nice, light-hearted story about family for the holiday season. Also, for some reason, I couldn't help comparing Mr and Mrs Brown with Homer and Marge Simpson.

[Poiema · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have highest regard for Anthony Trollope, but this little story has not aged as well as his other books. The main event centered on a mishap involving a mustard plaster, and is a little hard to relate to. Still, it was punctuated by good humor and I laughed aloud a few times, so it was not a total loss. It's a short read, taking less than two hours, and I liked it better than many of the sentimental Christmas books that make brief appearances each year.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amusing short story. Although the events take place at Christmas time, as a couple are traveling from Pau to England to spend Christmas with family, it is not a "Christmas story" such as A Christmas Carol or How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Instead it is a quietly amusing look at the foibles of the British matron abroad.

[Pi · Rating 5 out of 5]

"BOŻE NARODZENIE W REZYDENCJI THOMPSONÓW" Anthony'ego Trollope'a, to wybitna satyra na wiktoriańską Anglię. Zabawna tak bardzo, że prychałam śmiechem przy coraz to bardziej kuriozalnych zdarzeniach. To opowiadanie przyniosło mi taką radość, że trudno opisać. Nie dość, że wprowadza w świąteczny nastrój, to jeszcze bawi tak mocno, że od słonecznego rechotu czytelnika boli brzuch.
Akcja rozpoczyna się w Paryżu, w hotelu, gdzie noc spędza małżeństwo Brown. Pan Brown jest niesamowicie niepocieszony podróżą do Anglii na święta, ale Pani Brown nie daje za wygraną. Okazja do spędzenia Bożego Narodzenia w rodzinnej rezydencji jest spora - bo oto jej siostra chce przedstawić familii narzeczonego. Pan Brown uskarża się na bolące gardło i zaręcza, że nie przeżyje podróży i że to wszystko wina jego żony. Pani Brown robi co może, by męża udobruchać, więc w środku nocy rusza - na jego zresztą życzenie - po musztardę, z której ma zrobić mu okład na bolące gardło... paryski hotel jest jednak ogromny... To co wyniknie z ów nocnej eskapady - oj kochani! To jest złoto!
Anthony Trollope zachwycił mnie całkowicie. Jego styl jest zarazem konkretny, ale sprytnie opisowy, bogaty w emocje, ale nie przedobrzony - wszystkiego jest tyle ile być powinno, a najwięcej jest śmiechu. Ponadto jest to również satyra na wiktoriańską Anglię. Trafny, błyskotliwy obraz klas wyższych, ich manier i uprzedzeń, które prowadzić mogą do kuriozalnych efektów.
Mistrzostwo! Przyjemna, klimatyczna, zabawna historia o pełnej dobrych chęci Pani Brown i niepożądanych skutkach leczenia bólu gardła. KONIECZNIE PRZECZYTAJCIE! Ja stałam się fanką Anthony'ego Trollope'a.

boli was gardło? wysmarujcie je musztardą

[Nadine Keels · Rating 4 out of 5]

I made a book cover for this before I started reading:



When I found an article comparing this mid-Victorian Christmas novella to the work of P.G. Wodehouse, I had to give it a go.

Would I say it's as funny as a Wodehouse story? Not quite, according to what I've read from that other author so far. But I did have some laugh-out-loud moments reading this quirky little comedy of errors.

The significant amount of time given to Mrs. Brown's contemplations slows down the reading here and there. One or two of those stretches would likely be shortened up in a modern-day tale. But her reasoning throughout her predicament and her resulting mishmash of emotions do effectively reflect how folks sometimes wind up making—and compounding upon—silly mix-ups.

I'd not heard of this author before finding this book. I may look him up again the next time I go searching for vintage Christmas reads.

Note:
• One of the words I found in a description of this story is "risqué." Perhaps it was a bit of that, back in its day—what with folks seeing other folks in their nightshirts and slippers and all, heeheehee. Nonetheless, I'd say this is a "Rated G" read.

[Gina House · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5🌟 Although I enjoyed this Christmas Eve story, it really should have been titled "The Mystery of the Mustard Plaster". I kept asking myself, "Why didn't she just take off the plaster???" but, I had to remind myself that (at this period and time), a woman's actions would probably have been much more limited and restrictive. Especially at a hotel in Paris.

This is a slow and reflective story that is very detailed in its description of every move and motivation. In some ways, Anthony Trollope's writing style appeals to me. But, in other ways, I find it a bit tedious. Another reason may be that I'm a bit impatient.

Overall, I'm glad I finally read this story as it's been on my TBR for a long time. I think the narrator of this audiobook version did a wonderful job and, if I ever read the story again, I'll probably choose to listen again.

I was disappointed that this short story doesn't actually have a Christmas-y feel to it or any cozy Christmas scenes. But, Christmas at Thompson Hall is still a worthy at read any time of year.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This comical short story made me laugh. It's more of a comedy that takes place at Christmas time and not an actual "heartwarming Christmas story".

To listen to this on audio (less than 2 hours):
https://librivox.org/christmas-at-tho...