Alice Dugdale

by Anthony Trollope

In this 1878 short story, the daughter of a village doctor is loved by the vicar's son. An independent young woman, she laughs off his declarations, then regrets it when he seems to be courting another woman.

Genres: Classics, Fiction, Victorian, Audiobook, 19th Century, British Literature

Audiobook

First published December 1, 1878

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

[Livresse de Lola]

Loved the main character, loved the moral of the story, loved how the writer illustrates his story with his words. One thing : the plot wasn’t that much interesting, didn’t have time to care about the romance which is the main theme of the story.

[Theresa]

This novella is closer to the Trollope known to me in the larger novels than the other short stories I recently read. Alice is a solid heroine, and worth cheering on.

[Tracie]

I enjoy classic books of the Regency, Victorian, Edwardian, Gilded age or era, etc.
However, many of the works I have read like those of Anne and Charlotte Brontë, Jane Austin which I enjoy or wouldn't have completed, seem to be along the lines of repetitive romance, misunderstandings, protecting ones pride and securing a wealthy future for those of marital age and those young persons desiring love.
Not a bad theme but after reading so many of them they blur together and I find I want something different.
While an understandable thing to wish to protect one's pride or life and find happiness so often as in this case the story is too predictable and also in this case rather insipid. I just didn't care about these characters as they were rather bland of personality.
I read Alice Dugdale to get a taste of Anthony Trollope before diving into my lengthy volume of The Way We Live Now.
Thankfully, as expected he wrote very well and also it seems The Way We Live Now is described in a very different way as having some darker themes and some ill-mannered or undesirable characters to add some interest to the plot.
If you enjoy classic romance of the authors I mentioned above you will probably enjoy this short story about Alice Dugdale.

[Mbuye]

Unless one's heart is bitter indeed, it is almost impossible not to like Anthony Trollope, and in the novella ‘Alice Dugdale’ he gives full rein to his sense of fun. His longer novels have a different structure altogether, and several strands and subplots, as well as altogether graver themes and subjects, but in ‘Alice’ he is content to laugh over two matchmaking mamas. The great delight in this story really lies in the character sketches of the men and women who people it. There aren't any villains, of course, but there is Temptation to give some spice to an ordinary village romance.

Incidentally, this short story may be found in the collection “Why Frau Frohmann Raised Her Prices And Other Stories,” first published in 1882.

[Allyson Johnson]

This is a trivial little Trollope, a story of less than 100 pages. There is nothing in the plot particularly that is different from, say, the plot of “Dr. Thorne” or “The Small House at Allington”. But it’s got the flavor of Trollope, and I savored it in between reading several modern novels about racial injustice, the terrors of war, and the depredations of cancer. As a contrast, it is a very comfortable read.

[ I read a paperback version put out by the Caledonia Press, very nicely printed and presented.]

[Jim Jones]

This is a short, light book which can easily be read in a day. It concerns the fate of Alice Dugdale, who hopes to be married to an ambitious local army man. Societal pressures are making this difficult, as the Dugdales are not wealthy or socially prominent. Instead, the local squire’s family has their eye on the army man for one of their five daughters. The beautiful Georgina is chosen, and her mother works tirelessly to get the two together. Poor Alice is left feeling she will be forgotten, but as this is Trollope, all comes out right in the end.

[Saul Stokar]

A sweet book, though somewhat predictable for the genre. The characters remain one-dimensional and the attitude towards women is typically reactionary. I enjoyed Trollope's novel "Lady Anna" much more. Recommended, none the less, for devotees of the genre. (I didn't actually READ the book; I listened to the free Librivox recording. The reading by Anthony Ogus is excellent. )

[Dystopian Mayhem]

This is a short book for Trollope, I was glad it wasn’t filled with unnecessary details and concluded the plot quite fast. The “hero” was obviously indecisive, but I liked Alice, she was the only likable female character in this book. The characters are well written, but the desperate mother was really annoying.

[Diana]

I actually enjoyed this ,more unexpected because it was quite a short and not much interesting story. The plot was nothing and boring,predictable but the author talent and his writing style ,his characters descriptions and depth made it charming and engaging. Also it transported me in that day and age of his time .

[Sarah]

Gently-illustrated examples of how we can sometimes assume the worst about the people we know well, especially if we fear that possibility, and just how much courage and grace it requires not to do so.

[Diane]

I listened to this novella by Anthony Trollope on LibriVox. It was a tale of romance and marriage. I just love how Trollope handles the ladies in his books. He characterizes them so well!

[Krista]

(listened on librivox)

[Neethaa]

Completed on August 6 ,2022

[Steven Fox]

A short story I listen to on you tube. Good little story about how people though in the past about courting or should I say not courting in this matter.

[Emma]

Beautiful, beautiful story.

[Danielle]

This novella (only 100 pages) offers a Trollopian marriage plot, with only one pair of characters to track. It's charming enough, but slight. A quick comfort read if you like Trollope.

[Misa]

3.5 Stars.

[Kier Scrivener]

A very classic Trollope in novella form. A man caught between a poor woman he loves and a notable woman who fits the role as his wife.

[Cindy]

A light romance. But more than that, it was a story of the shameless yet understandable machinations of a lady to find matches for her daughters.

[~ Cheryl ~]

This novella follows the romantic affairs of three main characters, forming a love triangle (sort of). Though Alice is the title character, Trollope seems more interested in what’s happening in the male lead’s head and heart. Which as it turns out, is appropriate, and makes for good reading.

These lovers, in neighboring towns, get lots of unsolicited input from their families who each wish to see the thing turn out a particular way. This may be light fare, but Trollope manages to deliver a goodly portion of humor and heart.

A delightful little story with Trollope as our genial narrator. Recommended.

[Edelweiss]

A sweet novella, with quite a few funny bits. Probably a good introduction to Trollope, and the time period.