From the Writer’s Almanac:
It’s the birthday of novelist Anthony Trollope, born in London (1815). Many of his novels originated from daydreams that he had as a child. He worked for the post office, and became a postal surveyor. And every morning before breakfast, he sat down to write 1,000 words, publishing about three books every two years. He wrote realistic novels about the daily life of ordinary people, including The Warden (1855), Barchester Towers(1857), and Framley Parsonage (1861).
And, because she asked, some random Trollope quotes (gathered in 45 seconds from Barchester Towers) for Dana
How it is that poor men’s wives, who have no cold fowl and port wine on which to be coshered up, nurse their children without difficulty, whereas the wives of rich men, who eat and drink everything that is good, cannot do so, we will for the present leave to the doctors and the mothers to settle between them.
He wished to be what he called “safe” with all those whom he had admitted to the penetralia of his house and heart. […] His feelings towards his friends were, that while they stuck to him he would stick to them; that he would work with them shoulder and shoulder; that he would be faithful to the faithful. He knew nothing of that beautiful love which can be true to a false friend.
Eight other blog posts about Trollope. I. love. Trollope.
A Living Pencil 
And that is why I knew I’d found a kindred spirit the first time I laid eyes on your blog! I’m listening to The Warden right now. Oh, how I love a story about a man who wants to do what is right no matter what the cost. There are few hysterics in Trollope’s novels, but his characters suffer in their own quiet ways, don’t they?
Thank you, thank you, thank you, madam Now I am more determined that ever to download another Trollope and listen to him on my walks.I call it *trollicking* (aka frolicking)
“that beautiful love which can be true to a false friend”- Wow. Inspiring!What in the world is a postal surveyor?
from the Smithsonian sitePostal Inspectors, originally known as surveyors, were responsible for ensuring that mail moved securely and swiftly. By 1830 the surveyors were placed under the Office of Instructions and Mail Depredations and were known as special agents. Special agents investigated a range of crimes against the mail, as well as post office robberies and employee assaults. In 1880 Congress established the position of chief postal inspector and the special agents became known as post office inspectors. To emphasize that the inspectors’ duties ranged beyond those related to post offices, they were named postal inspectors in 1954.
I love Trollope, too, and recognized you as a kindred spirit when I first found out you read his books and enjoyed them. Please keep on singing the joys of Trollope – we need more readers to become acquainted with him – he’s too good to keep to oneself!