The second in Anthony Trollope's 'Chronicles of Barsetshire' series 'Barchester Towers' was first published in 1857. The story opens with the death of the much-loved Bishop of Barchester. His grief tempered with ambition, the Bishop's son naturally believes he will succeed his father. However, a power struggle ensues when the zealous Bishop Proudie and his scheming wife descend upon the Cathedral. Familiar characters from the first novel in this series 'The Warden' also reappear, including Eleanor Bold and Septimus Harding. There is much comedy to be had among the conflict, as Trollope skilfully captures and satirises the antipathy between the traditional and the new in this, one of the best-loved and most comical novels of the series. -