The American Senator

Name: The American Senator
Author: Anthony Trollope

The novel revolves around the life of a young American politician who becomes embroiled in a complex web of politics and personal relationships. The story explores themes of ambition, morality, and the corrupting influence of power. The protagonist's rise to prominence is marked by his charismatic personality and his ability to connect with people from all walks of life. However, as he gains more power and influence, he becomes increasingly isolated and disconnected from those around him. Throughout the novel, Trollope critiques the excesses of American politics and the ways in which politicians often prioritize their own interests over the needs of their constituents. The novel also explores the tension between individual ambition and public service, raising questions about the nature of morality and ethics in politics. Ultimately, the novel is a nuanced and thought-provoking exploration of the human condition, one that challenges readers to think critically about the complexities of power and politics.

By Anthony Trollope · First published 1877 · Genre: Political Fiction, Social Satire, Realism · 60 chapters · 244,700 words

First lines

I never could understand why anybody should ever have begun to live at Dillsborough, or why the population there should have been at any time recruited by newcomers. That a man with a family should cling to a house in which he has once established himself is intelligible. The butcher who supplied Dillsborough, or the baker, or the ironmonger, though he might not drive what is called a roaring trade, nevertheless found himself probably able to live, and might well hesitate before he would encounter the dangers of a more energetic locality. But how it came to pass that he first got himself to Dillsborough, or his father, or his grandfather before him, has always been a mystery to me. The town has no attractions, and never had any. It does not stand on a bed of coal and has no connection with iron. It has no water peculiarly adapted for beer, or for dyeing, or for the cure of maladies. It is not surrounded by beauty of scenery strong enough to bring tourists and holiday travellers. There is no cathedral there to form, with its bishops, prebendaries, and minor canons, the nucleus of a clerical circle. It manufactures nothing specially. It has no great horse fair, or cattle fair, or even pig market of special notoriety. Every Saturday farmers and graziers and buyers of corn and sheep do congregate in a sleepy fashion about the streets, but Dillsborough has no character of its own, even as a market town. Its chief glory is its parish church, which is ancient and inconvenient, having not as yet received any of those modern improvements which have of late become common throughout England; but its parish church, though remarkable, is hardly celebrated. The town consists chiefly of one street which is over a mile long, with a square or marketplace in the middle, round which a few lanes with queer old names are congregated, and a second small open space among these lanes, in which the church stands. As you pass along the street northwest, away from the railway station and from London, there is a steep hill, beginning to rise just beyond the marketplace. Up to that point it is the High Street, thence it is called Bullock's Hill. Beyond that you come to Norrington Road -- Norrington being the next town, distant from Dillsborough about twelve miles. Dillsborough, however, stands in the county of Rufford, whereas at the top of Bullock's Hill you enter the county of Ufford, of which Norrington is the assize town. The Dillsborough people are therefore divided, some two thousand five hundred of them belonging to Rufford, and the remaining five hundred to the neighbouring county. This accident has given rise to not a few feuds, Ufford being a large county, with pottery, and ribbons, and watches going on in the farther confines; whereas Rufford is small and thoroughly agricultural. The men at the top of Bullock's Hill are therefore disposed to think themselves better than their fellow-townsfolks, though they are small in number and not specially thriving in their circumstances.

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The American Senator is listed on Textopian as a novel by Anthony Trollope, dated 1877 CE.

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Work type: Novel
Author: Anthony Trollope
Date: 1877 CE
Language: English
Genres: Political Fiction, Social Satire, Realism, Comedy, Historical Fiction
Length: 244,700 words
Structure: 80 chapters, 3,607 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

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Genres

Political Fiction — The narrative explores the intricacies of political life and the moral dilemmas faced by politicians.
Social Satire — The work critiques societal norms and the behavior of various social classes, particularly in the context of American society.
Realism — The writing style emphasizes a realistic portrayal of characters and their interactions within a specific social and political setting.
Comedy — Elements of humor are woven throughout the narrative, often highlighting the absurdities of political and social situations.