Hunting Sketches

First published in 1865, Anthony Trollope’s ‘Hunting Sketches’ is a series of eight short essays based around the topic of hunting. Each sketch examines a different aspect of the hunt – from those who partake in it and the differences between them, to advice and guidance on how to improve your own hunting techniques. A short, educational piece full of vivid descriptions, ‘Hunting Sketches’ offers a fascinating window into the custom as it was practised in the 19th century. Anthony Trollope (1815 – 1882) was a Victorian writer and author of 47 novels. He also wrote an autobiography, short stories and plays, travel articles, reviews and lectures. A prolific writer, he made no secret of the fact that money was his motivation for writing – an admission which raised eyebrows among his literary contemporaries at the time. The amount of works Trollope authored are testament to his belief in hard work. His first successful novel was The Warden followed by its sequel, Barchester Towers. The Chronicles of Barsetshire are perhaps his most well-known series of novels, though many of his works have been adapted for TV and radio, starring many familiar faces such as Alan Rickman, David Tennant, Bill Nighy and Tom Hollander. Alongside his literary career, Trollope also worked for some time for the Post Office and is credited with the introduction of the iconic post box to Britain. A memorial to Anthony Trollope was unveiled in Poets’ Corner in Westminster Abbey in 1993.