They will come to hear a ruined man

They will come to hear a ruined man

George Housman Thomas

Wood engraving by W. Thomas

6 1/8 x 4 1/8 inches

Anthony Trollope,The Last Chronicle of Barset, Vol 2. Facing p.260.

A heart-rending scene in which Crawley makes his way through his congregation, many of whom have attended church in mockery, to hear ‘a ruined man’. The family’s expressions suggest their anguish, but Thomas also implies the clergyman’s courage, stepping defiantly towards the viewer. His clenched fist, in the very centre of the composition, is a powerful sign, adding another layer to the author’s penetrating analysis of suffering and fortitude.

Click on image to enlarge it.

Scanned image and text by Simon Cooke.

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