"The Three Clerks" is a novel by English author Anthony
Trollope,
published in 1858.
The novel follows the lives of
three men working with the Civil Service during the Victorian reforms. The book is also considered to be a self-portrait of the author as the young
Trollope in the character of Charley Tudor.
Harry Norman and Alaric Tudor work at the prestigious Weights and Measures office. Charley Tudor is a cousin of Alaric. The three men regularly visits the widowed Mrs Woodward who has three daughters, namely, Gertrude (the eldest,) Linda and Katie (the youngest.) Of the three men, Alaric is the most ambitious.
Harry loves Gertrude, but the relationship fizzled when Alaric superseded Harry for Gertrude's affection. High on his ambition, Alaric also gets promoted above Harry through the former's success in the competitive examination introduced by the new system in the Civil Service.
Alaric marries Gertrude. In his ambitious desire to succeed at work, Alaric speculates in shares and as he needs more money, he is forced to embezzle a trust fund. For this, he is tried and imprisoned. After he was released from the gaol, Alaric and his family decides to emigrate to Australia.
Harry marries the second Woodward girl, Linda, and settles down as a country squire.
Charley, on the other hand, is a contrast to his cousin Alaric. He is an honest man but has had unfortunate relationship entanglement with an Irish barmaid, Noran Geraghty. He also incurred some debts which he needs to pay. He struggles to meet his own problems, but resolves his problems in a respectable way. Eventually, Charley marries Katie, the third and the youngest of the Woodward daughter. He also gets a promotion to the Weights and Measures office.