Product Description

In the gentle precinct of Aldminster Cathedral, crisis loomed. The urbane and worldly Dean (Purdey guns and the regular arrival of a delivery van from Berry Brothers) wanted nothing so much as to restore and beautify his beloved Cathedral - even if it meant sacrificing the Choir School to pay for it. Alexander Troy, Headmaster of the school, a conscientious man, somewhat out of his depth with his elusive and poetical wife (once seen walking barefoot in the dew across the Cathedral Close) was determined that nothing and no-one - certainly not the overbearing Dean - should destroy the Choir. As the rift widened into machiavellian dimensions, many others found themselves caught in the schism - Leo Beckford, brilliant but wayward organist, repelling the adoration of the Dean's dreadful daughter - the gentle, left-wing Bishop, trying to soothe the angry protagonists - Sally Ashworth, mother of the leading chorister, fighting loneliness and an erring and absent husband. Each frail and human dilemma took its part in the greater turmoil of Chapter and Close and the final battle for the survival of the Choir.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #75057 in Books
• Published on: 1992-11-12
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

From the Back Cover
‘Richly satisfying’ Evening Standard

In the gentle precinct of Aldminster Cathedral, crisis looms.The urbane and worldly Dean wants nothing so much as to restore his beloved Cathedral - even if it means sacrificing the Choir School to pay for it.Alexander Troy, the school’s headmaster, is determined that nothing and no one - certainly not the overbearing Dean – shall destroy the Choir.

As the rift widens, many others are caught in the schism: Leo, the brilliant but wayward organist; the gentle left-wing Bishop, trying to soothe the angry protagonists; and Sally, mother of the leading chorister, fighting loneliness and an absent husband.Each frail and human dilemma took its part in the final battle for the survival of the Choir.

'A modern Barchester chronicle' Sunday Telegraph

About the Author
Joanna Trollope is the author of eagerly awaited and sparklingly readable novels often centred around the domestic nuaunces and dilemmas of life in present-day England. She has also written a number of historical novels and Britannia's Daughters, a study of women in the British Empire. Joanna Trollope was born in Gloucestershire and now lives in London. She was appointed OBE in the 1996 Queen's Birthday Honours List for services to literature.

Customer Reviews

Joanna Trollope is a First Rate Storyteller
Being both a church musician and a certified "anglophile", I found The Choir to be a wonderful book. Joanna Trollope gives in-depth character development and a very true-to-life slice of life in a Cathedral Close. This was my first read of her work and have since read 5 more of her books. Give yourself a treat and start your weekend with "The Choir" !

Not as involving as her other books
I am a big fan of Joanna Trollope's writing but it took me three attempts to get into this one and I don't think I've ever got to the last chapter. Whilst most of her characters are well rounded and on the whole, likeable, I found this novel a little disjointed compared to her others, which I could not put down. There seem to be so many strands to the storyline and to my mind, even too many characters spread too thinly. If you're new to Joanna Trollope's work, start with "Other People's Children" or "The Best of Friends" then work round to this one. Not a bad book, by any means, but not a favourite.