The matriarch of the Trollope family, Frances Trollope, wrote dozens of novels which are now unfortunately out of print. In this wonderful and fortunately in-print novel Fanny Trollope creates the world of Wrexhill, an idyllic English village full of a cast of strong-willed English characters. The novel deals with religious fanatacism, portrays atheism, and is overall a very balanced treatment of the subject of religion at the time. There is humour, a bit of melodrama, and suspense. It was a joy to read and I look forward to reading more Fanny Trollope titles in the future.