Nina Balatka [with Biographical Introduction]

This is a novel about prejudice in old Europe, and perhaps about the power of love to overcome it — b Nina Balatka is the story of a beautiful young Christian girl in 19th century Prague who is beset with two great troubles. This is a novel about prejudice in old Europe, and perhaps about the power of love to overcome it — but not entirely.

I very much enjoyed this book, despite the fact that the topics are hard. A poverty where the possibility of starvation is real — something that westerners have forgotten, to our own peril. A dangerous racism — antisemitism — that has been the blight of Europe forever and which still stubbornly persists today. Nina Balatka is not a love story as I would have written it. It is not an epic tale of love against all odds, full of passion and understanding; it is instead an earthy story about an uncomfortable love in a difficult time, a story that is natural and primal and trying. But it is a love story nonetheless, and Anthony Trollope tells it well.

Sep 07, Elizabeth Alaska rated it really liked it Shelves: This is the most serious of the Trollope novels I've read. It is completely devoid of any Trollope humor. Still, I quite enjoyed it. Trollope may have been putting his own spin on a Romeo and Juliet story.

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In this, a poor Christian girl is betrothed to a wealthy Jewish man. Neither of the families nor their respective communities approve. Throughout, I wondered if Trollope would bring himself to write a tragic ending. Even though Trollope's novels usually contain humor, it is the more serious sce This is the most serious of the Trollope novels I've read.

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Even though Trollope's novels usually contain humor, it is the more serious scenes in his novels that are the most vivid, and he doesn't miss those opportunities in this one. When Nina's aunt Sophie refers to the "dirty Jew" we can fairly see spittle fly. When Anton Trendellsohn's father thinks of his son marrying a Christian, the sadness within him is too apparent.

This is quite short. I don't think the anti-semitism reflected in the novel is a reflection of Trollope's own beliefs. Those who wish to explore Trollope beyond his two fabulous series might wish to include Nina Balatka in their reading as it shows Trollope for having more depth than some of his other lighter works. View all 6 comments. Aug 09, Lucy rated it it was ok. One for completists only. A wimp of a heroine, a nasty 'hero', few of the Trollopian asides which make him the delightful read he usually is.

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Oct 17, K. Can't believe I'll say this, bu this wasn't terribly engaging. Perhaps I'll finish it someday. Mar 09, Sally rated it really liked it Shelves: Kindle Edition Set in 19th century Prague, this is the tale of a lovely - but poor - Christian girl, and her love for stern, wealthy - but Jewish - Anton Trendellsohn. A mixed marriage in such a racially divided city is always going to be difficult, and as incensed relatives, jealous would-be lovers and interfering servants get involved on both sides , the union seems fra "There has been no girl connected with decent people who has ever so degraded herself" By sally tarbox on 10 March Format: A mixed marriage in such a racially divided city is always going to be difficult, and as incensed relatives, jealous would-be lovers and interfering servants get involved on both sides , the union seems fraught with problems.

But there is a further issue: Can Anton retrieve what is rightly his - and is it Nina herself who is concealing them? Well written and enjoyable.



1. Nina Balatka by Anthony Trollope.
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3. Read Ebook Nina Balatka With Biographical Introduction Pdf.
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As a shorter Trollope work p maybe you don't get quite as caught up in the characters as in the superlative Pallisers etc. But interesting to read a novel of the era that has some sympathies with the Jewish plight. Mar 25, David rated it it was ok Shelves: This was the first of several novels that Trollope originally published anonymously.

In his autobiography he says that this was done as a sort of experiment, to see to what extent a successful novelist's sales were attributable to his name, as opposed to the merits of new works. I wonder whether his real motive didn't lie in a concern that the market might be in danger of becoming glutted with Trollope -- the man was ungodly prolific. The novel, very short by Trollope's standards, is set in Pragu This was the first of several novels that Trollope originally published anonymously.

The novel, very short by Trollope's standards, is set in Prague, the first of Trollope's novels other than the historical fiction La Vendee set entirely on the Continent. As so often with Trollope, the plot centers on a couple in love with barriers to their marriage. Here the barriers are religious. Trollope was a man of his place and time, and exactly what his attitude to Jews was is a legitimate subject for debate. But not in this novel, where he clearly presents anti-Semitism as a social evil.

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The opening sentence, simple but poignant, is one of my favorites: Props to Anthony Ogus for his excellent Librivox narration. Nina Balatka is a destitute Christian woman living in Prague, caring for her infirmed father, in love with a highly-regarded Jewish man. Some readers are casting this as Romeo and Juliet, but I'm not convinced. I had to look up dates, confirming that Trollope wrote Nina B. Of all the Trollope novels I've read this is the darkest possible exception: He Knew He Was Right. I must d Props to Anthony Ogus for his excellent Librivox narration.

I must declare that I really could not predict how the plot would play out, if Trollope would clear the way for a interfaith couple or if he would break them up. This lacked Trollope's trademark witticisms; my response is tepid. Feb 05, Virginia rated it really liked it. I enjoyed this novella thoroughly even though the plot hung together weakly, the characters lacked complexity, and the usual Trollopian humor was absent.

Despite these features, it was a compelling tale of the tenaciousness of prejudice. It was also interesting to see Trollope attempt to capture a sense of place. In this respect, it didn't measure up to Hardy but from my vantage, worked nonetheless. More or less a satisfying read Was a little one dimensional. But a good love story almost as good as other Trollope fare. Even mediocre Trollope is far superior to anything the reader is likely to find in any modern novel.

Nina Balatka is not a place to begin an acquaintance with the novels of Anthony Trollope, but those who love Trollope's work, as I do, are almost certain to find some merit in this novel.

Nina Balatka

A woman in love utterly subjects herself to the man she loves. No insult can upset her subservience; nothing can dull her adoration. This is true, not only for Nina, but also Rebecca, another Anton devotee. Rebecca, if anything, is the more nauseatingly subservient of the two. At least Nina hopes to obtain a husband for her efforts; Rebecca is willing to sacrifice her life for his happiness in return for nothing.

To make matters worse, Anton Trendellsohn is no prize. We never learn why he chronically distrusts Nina. She serially proves her loyalty and love, and still he languishes for a document that will make his life more convenient and that he thinks Nina harbors. And amazing to me that the Trollope who wrote this novel , also wrote the Palliser novels and the Barsetshire novels One person found this helpful. Top rated Most recent Top rated. All reviewers Verified purchase only All reviewers All stars 5 star only 4 star only 3 star only 2 star only 1 star only All positive All critical All stars All formats Format: There was a problem filtering reviews right now.

Please try again later. There was a problem loading comments right now. Kindle Edition Verified Purchase. The plot was a little contrived. Nina's Jewish lover was not helpful and sympathetic enough to her poverty. How could he not see that she and her father were starving and that her clothes were rags. He professed his love but he seemed more concerned for himself. This is an excellent book. The plot is not as overly-sentimental, as some Victorian fiction.

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It reminded me of the play "Abie's Irish Rose" without the comedy overtones. As a Jew, I thought it gave a fair depiction of what life was like for both Christians and Jews in the 17 - 18 century in England. It is very well written and I kept reading it to see what would be the final fate of Nina, the Christian girl. I would recommend it to anyone as a good story.

A very good book with Prague as a background. Anthony Trollope was visiting there when he wrote this book, even published under an assumed name. Not Trollope's best, but my bad. Not one of Trollope's best although he thought it was pretty good..

He apparently tried to disguise his authorship of it, but the critics soon recognized it as Trolloope's work. As a Trollope fan, I found this book less captivating than many others. Still, I was glad I read it. It portrayed a certain period of history in a certain section of Prague that was interesting. The deep bonds of authentic love can never be cast off by any opposing force! What a deep novel that shows truly how we are all human and prone to tenatiously defend that which we believe to be true. A great read and am now going on to another Trollope novel.

I did not find this Trollope novel hard to read at all. There's a problem loading this menu right now.