Cousin Henry

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Cousin Henry is a novel by Anthony Trollope in 1879. The story deals with the trouble arising from the indecision of a squire, Indefer Jones, in choosing an heir to his estate.

Of all Trollope's shorter novels, this one has been called one of his most experimental. [1]

[edit] Plot summary

Indefer Jones is the squire of a large manor in Carmarthen, Wales. His failing health makes it necessary to select an heir to his property. Because of his great love for his niece, Isabel Brodrick, who has lived with him for years on the property, it would seem appropriate to bequeath the estate to her. However, according to his traditional beliefs, it is necessary to name a male heir, with the same last name, to become the next squire.

His closest male relative is his nephew Henry Jones, a London clerk. Henry is a rather unassertive individual who is described as 'pathetic and shallow.'[2] Henry is told of his uncle's intentions and is invited to pay a visit. However, upon further acquaintance, Indefer and Isabel find that they detest him. As a result, Indefer overcomes his prejudice and changes his will one final time, in Isabel's favour. Unfortunately, he dies before he can tell anyone.

Henry finds the document hidden in a book of sermons by accident, but does nothing. He vacillates between keeping silent and revealing the will's location. He is neither good enough to give up the estate nor evil enough to burn the document and commit a felony, punishable by a long jail sentence. Instead, he comforts himself by reasoning that doing nothing can't be a crime.

Henry is tormented by his indecision. In the meanwhile, his guilty manner invites suspicion. He endures abuse from everyone; even his own in-house staff treat him with disrespect. He takes to spending hours in the library, where the will is hidden.

The local newspaper begins to publish libelous accounts of Henry. It accuses him of destroying the will and usurping the estate from Isabel, whom everybody knows and respects. The old squire's lawyer, Mr Apjohn, approaches Henry about the articles, forcing him to take legal action against the editor to avoid suspicion. He finds that this only makes things worse. The prospect of being cross examined in the witness box fills Henry with dread. He realises that Mr. Apjohn had set a trap for him: eventually, the truth will be dragged out of him, unless he voluntarily gives up the will.

Mr Apjohn, by clever questioning, gets a good idea about where the will might be hidden, and plans to conduct a thorough search of the library. Henry knows that time is running out, but once again, he is unable to act, due to his lack of courage. Mr Apjohn and Mr Brodrick, Isabel's father, visit Henry at home and find the will, despite Henry's ineffectual efforts to stop them. Because he didn't destroy the will, Henry is permitted to return to his job in London with his reputation intact.

[edit] References