The Channings

Unlike her better known sensational 'East Lynne', this is a rather more sedate domestic novel revolving around the trials and tribulations of a middle class family, much in the style of Mrs Gaskell and Trollope, but with weaker characterisations and more schmaltz. Like many of Trollope's novels, it revolves around the consequences of a false accusation, but her insights into guilt and self-sacrifice are rather superficial. The plotting of the theft mystery is also rather manipulative and dishonest. Its redeeming feature are the comedy scenes around secondary characters, all rather less pious than the titular family and rather good fun, particularly proto-slacker Roland Yorke and family and the school porter Ketch, perpetual victim of show more schoolboy pranks. show less