Anthony Trollope
British · 19th century
Prolific mid-19th century British novelist known for the Barsetshire and Palliser series of novels.
Connection to Taylor Swift
Uncle Jerry references Trollope's Barchester Towers as containing an echo of the 'devil you know' proverb that Taylor twists in The Albatross.
Notable Works
- Barchester Towers, The Warden, The Way We Live Now
Appears in the Archive
Context within the Archive
Barchester Towers
“Devils that you know Raise worse hell than a stranger”
Angela & Uncle Jerry note that the line 'Devils that you know raise worse hell than a stranger' echoes the proverb 'Better the devil you know than the devil you don't,' which Uncle Jerry traces to Richard Taverner's translation of Erasmus's proverbs and notes is also echoed in Anthony Trollope's Barchester Towers. Taylor twists the saying, instead of the known devil being preferable, the wise men are saying the known devil (Taylor) is actually worse than a stranger.