The first book of the Barchester Chronicles,set in a fictional cathedral city,probably based on Salisbury. The central character is Rev. Septimus Harding,the warden of an almshouse for elderly men. The plot centres on a crisis of conscience when Harding is accused in a national newspaper of receiving more than his fair share for managing the almshouse. I really enjoyed reading this book. The characters are well drawn, particularly that of Hardy himself. Some aspects of the book will perhaps have little meaning for many modern readers. In some respects however it has resonances today, particularly the depiction of the actions of the newspaper editor - the embodiment of 'power without responsibility '