Anthony Trollope, the novelist, lived here. This plaque commemorates his life. It’s a simple bronze rectangle. The Anthony Trollope Plaque marks a place where a literary giant once resided.
The Anthony Trollope Plaque is at 39 Montagu Square, Marylebone. The London County Council erected it in 1914. Later, the plaque was moved to a more prominent position. Now, it stands as a lasting tribute to Trollope.
Anthony Trollope was born on April 24, 1815. He died on December 6, 1882. Despite an unhappy childhood, he became a remarkable man. Trollope wrote 47 novels. He also rose to the top of the Post Office.
Trollope did not begin to write until his thirties. His early novels met with little success. These were written in Ireland. But in the 1850s, Trollope’s Barsetshire novels made him a literary success.
Trollope’s birthplace was at 16 Keppel Street, Bloomsbury. His mother, Frances Trollope, also an author, lived there. His brother, Thomas Adolphus Trollope, was born there too. London University demolished the house in the 1930s. It was replaced with a car park.
The bicentenary of Anthony Trollope’s birth was in 2015. He introduced freestanding postboxes to the UK in 1852. This happened while working at the Post Office. He also wrote his earliest novels as a Post Office inspector. It is said that he occasionally dipped into the lost-letter box for ideas.
Now, consider Trollope’s impact on literature. Reflect on his dedication. Think about his work at the Post Office. All while standing here, before the Anthony Trollope Plaque.