Christmas at Thompson Hall
Those of you who have read Anthony Trollope’s novels know that he is a master of the art of character creation. Each of the people who populate his novels have distinct personalities that bring them alive to the reader and draw them into his world. With a short story, however, I wondered if Trollope’s fine skills would hold up using a smaller palette. And so I began to read Christmas at Thompson Hall with a somewhat apprehensive curiosity.
Quay of the Hotel deVille in Paris – Gustave Loiseau ~ source Wikiart
Instead of being set in England as the reader might suspect, we meet Mr. and Mrs. Brown who are an English couple wintering in the south of France as they do every winter season, however this year they have received an invitation to spend Christmas at Thompson Hall in Stratford among Mrs. Brown’s relatives and her sister in particular who is preparing to be wed. Mr. Brown is not pleased at the thought of travel but Mrs. Brown will not be deterred, and they set off on their journey. Yet Mr. Brown is not to be easily placated nor does any carefree nature rise to the surface as he begins to complain of the distance and the inconvenience and the cold and finally his sore throat and sickness in his head that he certainly would not have contracted if they’d stayed in the south. While Mrs. Brown sympathizes with her aggravating husband, she is not to be waylaid and will do everything to ensure a return to her relatives. Upon reaching Paris though, she makes the mistake of trying too hard to appease her husband’s wishes.
‘“I’ll tell you what you can do,” he said very hoarsely. His voice was so bad now that she could hardly hear him. So she crept close to him, and bent over him. She would do anything if he would only say what. Then he told her what was his plan. Down in the salon he had seen a large jar of mustard standing on a sideboard. As he left the room he had observed that this had not been withdrawn with the other appurtenances of the meal. If she could manage to find her way down there, taking with her a handkerchief folded for the purpose, and if she could then appropriate a part of the contents of that jar, and returning with her prize, apply it to his throat, he thought that he could get some relief, so that he might be able to leave his bed the next morning at five.’
Malvern Hall (1821) John Constable ~ source Wikiart
The comedy that ensues from Mrs. Brown’s nightly jaunt will keep you chuckling through the story, as mistake piles upon mistake and impossibility upon impossibility. And no sooner have the Browns escaped their Paris foibles than they have a surprise upon reaching Thompson Hall greater than they could have imagined.
Portrait of Mrs. Gawen Brown (1763) John Singleton Copley
~ source Wikiart
Trollope focuses on the dignity of an English matron in contrast to the situation abroad. If Mrs. Brown had only sacrificed her English decorum and respectability and directly approached the truth, the ensuing calamities could have been prevented. It is indeed a story set around Christmastime but Trollope certainly plays on the differences of gender and culture to craft this tale. Only he could take an English matron in France and a jar of mustard and devise a short story well worth the read!
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Travel is evil. I’m of a mind to agree with this Mr Whatever his name is on that principle alone! 😀
You are of one mind with Mrs. Rachel Lynde from Anne of Green Gables then, when she said travelling made “me think of Satan in the Book of Job, going to and fro and walking up and down”
I had completely forgotten that! Oh, that is a good one.
Must look this one up. I’ve read a couple of his other short stories and found them entertaining and clever in ways I never expected. Nice review.
Thanks, Cath. It was lots of fun. I must read more of his short stories.
We listened to this on Librivox – narrated by Nicholas Clifford; very enjoyable.
I keep forgetting about Librivox. I have to try it again to practice my abysmal listening skills.
I’ve never read any short fiction by Trollope. This does sound fun!
It’s definitely worth a read and has made me look forward to reading more short fiction by him.
This sounds wonderful. I like that it has humor! I am looking for some new Christmas stories. Hmmm.
It’s definitely worth reading and easy to find. BTW I’m planning to answer your IG message but life kind of blew up for me this week. However, what you said really resonated. I’ll get back to you!
Don’t rush, but I look forward to it.
Oh, that does sound amusing! I’ve been toying with the idea of ordering this book (thought, as backlogged as all the shippers are, it probably wouldn’t arrive to next year!), as it would be nice to have a larger selection of Christmas stories at my disposal. Still considering… I’d been wondering if you’d find time for Christmas reads this year–glad to see that you have.
I would say absolutely order this book. The stories are so worthwhile and such a variety of authors. I seem to be going through a few stories per year which is good as they can sit with me for awhile.
I’m glad I’m having time for some Christmas reads too! 😁
I just checked, I have it in his complete works, yay ! Plus Christmas day at Kirby cottage. I love Anthony Trollope, his humour and his great set of characters, thanks for sharing 🙂
Ooo, please let me know if Christmas Day at Kirby Cottage is good and, if you read both, which one you prefer. Trollope is wonderful, isn’t he? Sigh! There is just not enough time in the day to read!
I recently finished Kirby cottage and enjoyed it very much, even if it’s not the general opinion on Goodreads – I’d just read Samuel Butler’s The way of all flesh before and Kirby Cottage was such a lighter read, a relief !
I think I’d enjoy Kirby Cottage as well. The Way of All Flesh was challenging, was it? I’ve eyed it once or twice but I must admit, it’s not one that I’m dying to read. I do look at it with apprehension.
I have not read this! How come I have not read this? Shall be remedied asap! Excellent review Cleo! p.s. thanks for adding to the TBR! lol
Oh, definitely read it! I don’t think you’ll be disappointed! And thanks for the compliment!
I had no idea Trollope wrote Christmas stories – I’m glad to hear that his skill in writing characters carries through to his short stories!
He does, at least two of which I’m aware. I’d love to have a Trollope year sometime but in 2021 I’m going to concentrate more on getting through The Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen fairy tales. Perhaps in 2022 I’ll make room for Trollope!
Fair enough! I think I’d go for the fairy tales first too, Trollope’s sedate style seems like the perfect follow up to the excitement of the Grimms and the darkness of Andersen!