Cousin Henry

Anthony Trollope was a prolific Victorian writer. Trollope's best-loved works were known as the Chronicles of Barsetshire, which center on the imaginary county of Basetshire. He wrote penetrating novels on political, social, and gender issues and conflicts. When Trollope returned to England after eighteen months in the colonies, he was horrified by the rampant immorality he found. Cousin Henry is an 1879 novel. The story deals with the trouble arising from the indecision of a squire, Indefer Jones, in choosing an heir to his estate. Indefer Jones is squire to a large Welsh estate. When his health begins to fail he needs to choose an heir. Isabel has lived with him for years, but Indefer feels he must choose a male heir. When his closest heir Henry turns out to be a shallow man, Indefer decides to make Isabel his heir. When Henry finds the document he is torn between burning the new will or letting Isabel have her home.