CHAPTER IV

THE FIRST TWO IRISH NOVELS

Trollope’s first novel, _The Macdermots of Ballycloran_--“The best Irish story that has appeared for half a century”--Clever effects of light and shade--The story’s principal characters and their allegorical significance--Typical sketches of Irish life and institutions--The working of the spy system in detection of crime--Some specimens of Trollopian humour--_The Kellys and the O’Kellys_--Trollope’s second literary venture--Links with its predecessor--Its plot and some of the more interesting figures--The squire, the doctor, and the parson 60