E-text prepared by Jesse Chandler and revised by Joseph E. Loewenstein, M.D. AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY by ANTHONY TROLLOPE CONTENTS PREFACE. I. MY EDUCATION, 1815-1834. II. MY MOTHER. III. THE GENERAL POST OFFICE, 1834-1841. IV. IRELAND--MY FIRST TWO NOVELS, 1841-1848. V. MY FIRST SUCCESS, 1849-1855. VI. _BARCHESTER TOWERS_ AND _THE THREE CLERKS_, 1855-1858. VII. _DOCTOR THORNE_--_THE BERTRAMS_--_THE WEST INDIES AND THE SPANISH MAIN_. VIII. THE _CORNHILL MAGAZINE_ AND _FRAMLEY PARSONAGE_. IX. _CASTLE RICHMOND_--_BROWN, JONES, AND ROBINSON_--_NORTH AMERICA_--_ORLEY FARM_. X. _THE SMALL HOUSE AT ALLINGTON_--_CAN YOU FORGIVE HER?_--_RACHEL RAY_--AND THE _FORTNIGHTLY REVIEW_. XI. _THE CLAVERINGS_--THE _PALL MALL GAZETTE_--_NINA BALATKA_--AND _LINDA TRESSEL_. XII. ON NOVELS AND THE ART OF WRITING THEM. XIII. ON ENGLISH NOVELISTS OF THE PRESENT DAY. XIV. ON CRITICISM. XV. _THE LAST CHRONICLE OF BARSET_--LEAVING THE POST OFFICE--_ST. PAUL'S MAGAZINE_. XVI. BEVERLEY. XVII. THE AMERICAN POSTAL TREATY--THE QUESTION OF COPYRIGHT WITH AMERICA--FOUR MORE NOVELS. XVIII. _THE VICAR OF BULLHAMPTON_--_SIR HARRY HOTSPUR_--_AN EDITOR'S TALES_--_CÆSAR_. XIX. _RALPH THE HEIR_--_THE EUSTACE DIAMONDS_--_LADY ANNA_--_AUSTRALIA_. XX. _THE WAY WE LIVE NOW_ AND _THE PRIME MINISTER_--CONCLUSION. PREFACE. It may be well that I should put a short preface to this book. In the summer of 1878 my father told me that he had written a memoir of his own life. He did not speak about it at length, but said that he had written me a letter, not to be opened until after his death, containing instructions for publication. This letter was dated 30th April, 1876. I will give here as much of it as concerns the public: "I wish you to accept as a gift from me, given you now, the accompanying pages which contain a memoir of my life. My intention is that they shall be published after my death, and be edited by you. But I leave it altogether to your discretion whether to publish or to suppress the work;--and also to your discretion whether any part or what part shall be omitted. But I would not wish that anything should be added to the memoir. If you wish to say any word as from yourself, let it be done in the shape of a preface or introductory chapter." At the end there is a postscript: "The publication, if made at all, should be effected as soon as possible after my death." My father died on the 6th of December, 1882.