An Autobiography of Anthony Trollope

An Autobiography of Anthony Trollope Summary

An Autobiography of Anthony Trollope is a candid memoir published posthumously in 1883, where Trollope reflects on his life, career, and the literary landscape of Victorian England. He offers insights into his disciplined writing habits, experiences at the General Post Office, and interactions with contemporaries, providing a unique perspective on the 19th-century literary world.

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An Autobiography of Anthony Trollope Excerpt

Short Summary: In this autobiography, Anthony Trollope shares his journey from a challenging childhood to becoming a renowned novelist, detailing his writing process, professional life, and views on literature.

"It may be doubted whether any man can tell the entire truth about himself. It is hard to know even one's own motives, and to describe them requires a precision of language which is seldom at command. I have, however, endeavoured to write down my literary life with all the truth I can command, and I leave the volume to be read by those who take an interest in such matters, with some confidence that it will be received with indulgence."

Trollope begins his autobiography with a reflection on the difficulty of complete self-disclosure, acknowledging the challenges inherent in understanding and articulating one's own motives. He expresses a hope that readers will approach his account with understanding and leniency.

"I was born in Keppel Street, Russell Square, on 24th April 1815. My father, Thomas Anthony Trollope, was a barrister, and my mother, Frances Milton Trollope, became known as a writer in the latter period of her life. My father was unfortunate in his profession, and quarrelled, as I have been told, with his family."

Here, Trollope provides a brief overview of his family background, noting his father's struggles in the legal profession and his mother's later success as a writer. He hints at familial discord, setting the stage for the challenges he faced in his early years.

"I have often been asked in what way I became possessed of that wondrous rule of writing with my watch before me, and of producing so many words an hour. I have generally answered by describing the simple fact that I trained myself to write in that manner, because I had but a limited time at my disposal."

Trollope discusses his disciplined writing routine, revealing that his methodical approach was born out of necessity due to time constraints. This insight sheds light on how he managed to be so prolific, balancing his literary pursuits with his duties at the Post Office."