Anthony Trollope (1815-1882) was born into little means. His difficult youth and early academic failure stacked the cards against him. Yet he became one of the 19th century's most revered and influential novelists, helping, along with Dickens and Thackeray, to define an era of Victorian literature. During his prolific career as an author, he penned over forty novels. The «Barsetshire» and «Palliser» series defined his career, establishing him as a formidable writer. Trollope's prodigious output became a thing of legend. His muse seemed to come from pure discipline, adhering to a strict writing schedule of 250 words every quarter hour of the working day. His sweeping tales of the British upper class and the social maneuvering that sustained it became immensely popular during his life. In «An Autobiography» (1883), Trollope turns his eye inward, examining his rich and diverse life—his troubled youth, his failed political career, and his unique writing process—this work proves to be as insightful as it is entertaining. A classic in itself, «An Autobiography» is a revealing account of one of the 19th century's most enigmatic authors.