In the gentle precinct of Aldminster Cathedral, crisis loomed. The urbane and worldly Dean (Purdey guns and the regular arrival of a delivery van from Berry Brothers) wanted nothing so much as to restore and beautify his beloved Cathedral - even if it meant sacrificing the Choir School to pay for it. Alexander Troy, Headmaster of the school, a conscientious man, somewhat out of his depth with his elusive and poetical wife (once seen walking barefoot in the dew across the Cathedral Close) was determined that nothing and no-one - certainly not the overbearing Dean - should destroy the Choir. As the rift widened into machiavellian dimensions, many others found themselves caught in the schism - Leo Beckford, brilliant but wayward organist, repelling the adoration of the Dean's dreadful daughter - the gentle, left-wing Bishop, trying to soothe the angry protagonists - Sally Ashworth, mother of the leading chorister, fighting loneliness and an erring and absent husband. Each frail and human dilemma took its part in the greater turmoil of Chapter and Close and the final battle for the survival of the Choir.
The Choir
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"A beautifully drawn portrait of Cathedral life" (Sunday Express )
"One of the most interesting writers to have emerged in the past few years" (Carla McKay Daily Mail )
"A modern Barchester Chronicle" (Sunday Telegraph )
"Richly satisfying" (Evening Standard )
"One of the most interesting writers to have emerged in the past few years" (Carla McKay Daily Mail )
"A modern Barchester Chronicle" (Sunday Telegraph )
"Richly satisfying" (Evening Standard )
Book Description
A story of ecclesiastical politics and human dilemmas.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Kate Hopkins
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
I usually have mixed feelings about Joanna Trollope novels, but this book certainly deserves high praise for its well constructed and gripping plot - the central theme being the need to save a cathedral choir after the Dean has announced that the Cathedral finances can no longer support it - its cast of well-depicted and very interesting characters, and its clever portrayal of cathedral life. As regards the last point, I've had quite a lot of experience of cathedral music, having been at Bristol Cathedral School and sung in the girls choir there in the 1990s, and with my father having been a lay clerk at Salisbury many years ago, and I have to say Trollope gets the tone just right. Despite the odd clanger ('Have you ever had an affair', said Leo. 'Well, you're about to have one now') the central romantic interest, between Leo the cathedral organist and Sally the mother of the star young chorister, is movingly described. Trollope manages to make us sympathize with the bullying Dean, Hugh Cavendish, while making it clear his behaviour is pretty appalling, and even to feel sorry for his bossy wife (a real Mrs Proudie type) in the end. The Headmaster, the Dean's chief opponent, is a wonderfully sympathetic figure, and his relationship with his poet wife (even if she's a little idealized in certain respects; all gauzy skirts and poetic musings) very interesting to read about. Henry, the main child character is much more fully-rounded and believable than most of Trollope's children (who tend to be highly objectionable - I really liked Henry though) and his relationship with his old-style Socialist grandfather Frank was a lovely element of the book. And Trollope clearly had a lot of fun with the Dean's dreadful children - so much so that I wish we'd met the two older ones as well!
The novel was well paced, with just enough hints of mystery in the plot to keep you guessing to the end exactly what was going to happen. And though I felt there were still a few loose ends (particularly in the story of Henry and his mother) that could have been slightly better tied up, I think Trollope brought everything to a fairly realistic and rather stylish ending.
Lots to enjoy here!
The novel was well paced, with just enough hints of mystery in the plot to keep you guessing to the end exactly what was going to happen. And though I felt there were still a few loose ends (particularly in the story of Henry and his mother) that could have been slightly better tied up, I think Trollope brought everything to a fairly realistic and rather stylish ending.
Lots to enjoy here!
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Being both a church musician and a certified "anglophile", I found The Choir to be a wonderful book. Joanna Trollope gives in-depth character development and a very true-to-life slice of life in a Cathedral Close. This was my first read of her work and have since read 5 more of her books. Give yourself a treat and start your weekend with "The Choir" !
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Its a comfort to have this on my kindle as one of my little stash of reliable reads. Om tne 3rd ot 4th time of reading I get more from it every time.
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3.8 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Choir
Joanna Trollope is another of my favourite easy reading authors. I read the book very quickly and thoroughly enjoyed reading it
Published 3 months ago by Linda Carole Gilbert
5.0 out of 5 stars
the choir
i know somone who used to read all of joanna troppopes books and thought i would try one but i have only just started to read it
Published 4 months ago by ann smith
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent book
Really enjoyed this. I remember seeing the TV adaptation and it was good to catch up on the story, as well as an insight into the workings of the CofE hierarchy.
Published 5 months ago by AG1950
3.0 out of 5 stars
Too complicated
I agree completely that 'the Choir' is considerably less catchy than Joanna Trollope's other books, which I have really enjoyed. Read more
Published on 9 Dec 2010 by Henriette H
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not as involving as her other books
I am a big fan of Joanna Trollope's writing but it took me three attempts to get into this one and I don't think I've ever got to the last chapter. Read more
Published on 26 July 2004 by sam155
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