Doctor Wortle's School

What It's About

Dr. Wortle, the strong-willed headmaster and rector of the fictional parish of Bowick, runs a thriving school for boys. When he hires Mr. Peacocke, a capable classical scholar, as his assistant master, along with Mr. Peacocke's wife as matron, he believes he has found the ideal appointment. But it soon emerges that the Peacockes' marriage is not what it appears to be, and the resulting scandal threatens to destroy the school's reputation, the doctor's standing in the community, and the futures of everyone involved. As gossip spreads and enemies seize the opportunity to attack him, Dr. Wortle must decide whether to abandon the couple to protect himself, or stand by them against the disapproval of the whole community.

Key Concepts

The novel is a study of Victorian respectability and the gap between rigid social convention and individual conscience. Trollope examines how reputation, once questioned, becomes almost impossible to defend, and how provincial gossip and petty rivalries can escalate into a full-blown social crisis. There's also a satirical thread running through the book's depiction of American manners and character, contrasted with English propriety, as well as a lighter subplot involving Dr. Wortle's daughter and her own romantic prospects.

About the Author

Anthony Trollope (1815–1882) was an English novelist of the Victorian era. Raised in straitened circumstances after his father's business failures forced the family to Belgium, he began a long career with the General Post Office, where he is credited with introducing the pillar box to Britain. He became one of the most prolific and widely read novelists of his time, known for his shrewd observation of clergy, gentry, and political life.