Dr Thorne, the third novel in Anthony Trollope's Chronicles of Barsetshire, sees Trollope steer away from the clergy and the church politics of The Warden and Barchester Towers and move towards the scandals and prejudice of the upper tiers of Victorian era aristocracies. It tells the tale of Frank Gresham and Mary Thorne, a couple intent on marriage despite their conflicting social backgrounds. Frank is engaged in a fierce battle with his family as his mother vehemently opposes the marriage and pushes him to marry a wealthy heiress; however, Frank shuns her attempts and is determined to accept Mary on her own terms. Dr Thorne contains all of Trollope's beloved prose: always solicitous, gentle and kind to his audience, Trollope never shies away from poking fun at the pretentions of some of his characters as he peppers the narrative with wonderfully witty observations that will leave you smiling.