I love Trollope. He is so good at exploring the group dynamics of a society (although only a small mainly upper middle class section). I think he's especially good at smaller groups - a family, a few friends and showing how we misunderstand each other - our friends, our enemies, and ourselves. I don't think there's a better chronicler or our in-between states of mind (okay, okay, Shakespeare. Hamlet. I know!): indecision, drifting malaise, an unsureness about what our next steps should be - or would it be better to leave well enough alone? And then, when we've put ourselves wrong, his generosity and magnanimousness, his kindness is what you would hope from your best friends.
