"Dr. Thorne" is the third in the series of Barsetshire novels by Anthony Trollope. But unlike the first two, this has little to do with the politics of the Church of England. It is the tale of two lovers from different classes, and their struggle to keep their love alive in spite of social pressures to go their own ways. Unlike the first two novels, the plot starts out very slowly, with long descriptions of the history and conditions of the fictional "Greshamsbury" estate. The author even apologizes near the beginning of the novel for trying the patience of his readers.
While "Dr. Thorne" lacks the crispness and economy of the first two Barsetshire novels, The Warden and Barchester Towers, it builds to a satisfying conclusion, and the author paints his usual precise and scathing characterizations.