Line #7 Literature/TheChoir


1	[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the_choir_uk_2_dvd_copy_3682.jpg]]
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3	Joanna Trollope's 1988 novel explores the politics and personalities of a fictional cathedral and its choir. In the precinct of Aldminster Cathedral, crisis looms. After already spending a great deal of money on a restoration of the cathedral organ, leaks in the roof are discovered requiring a major and expensive renovation. Hugh Cavendish, the urbane and worldly Dean, wants nothing so much as to restore his beloved Cathedral - even if it means sacrificing the Choir School to pay for it. Alexander Troy, the school’s headmaster, is determined that nothing and no one - certainly not the overbearing Dean – shall destroy the Choir.
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5	As the rift widens, many others are caught in the schism including Leo Beckford, the brilliant but wayward organist fighting off the unwanted attentions of Ianthe Cavendish, Dean Cavendish's rebellious daughter; Nicholas Elliot, an Old Boy down on his luck and searching for a purpose in life; the Bishop trying to soothe the angry protagonists without taking sides; Sally Ashworth, mother of the leading chorister, fighting loneliness and an absent husband; and Henry Ashworth, whose sublime treble voice may hold the key to saving the choir.
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7	In 1995, the book was adapted by Creator/TheBBC into a TV miniseries staring RealLife choirboy Anthony Way as Henry Ashworth and Nicholas Farrell as Leo Beckford.
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9	!!This book and/or the miniseries adaptation thereof includes:
10	* CherubicChoir
11	* ChickMagnet: Leo Beckford is a mild example. He seems to have a knack for attracted unwanted female attention. In addition to Ianthe Cavendish, his {{Backstory}} mentions a HotForTeacher student at an [[OneGenderSchool all girls school]] whose unwanted attentions led to him getting fired.
12	* ChildPopstar: The top line (treble aka soprano) of the Alminster cathedral choir is sung by boys. Henry Ashworth [[spoiler: helps save the choir by recording a record that proves to be a major hit.]]
13	* ChildProdigy: Henry is not an intellectual genius, but he is a brilliant singer
14	* DisappearedDad: Alan Ashworth, father of Henry and husband to Sally, is overseas working for most of the movie. His frequent absences and (in the book) infidelity strains the Ashworth marriage.
15	* FakeBand: The fictional Choir of Aldminster, played by a RealLife cathedral choir.
16	* GoodAdulteryBadAdultery: Sally Ashworth's affair with Leo Beckworth is depicted sympathetically, as her husband is frequently absent both physically and emotionally, and it is strongly implied that her husband is a unfaithful. [[spoiler: She eventually divorces her husband and marries Leo, however the scandal forces Leo to resign and take up a position with another choir.]]
17	* {{Goth}}: Cosmo Cavendish affects gothic styles, mostly to upset his parents.
18	* HappilyMarried: Almost entirely averted. One could say that unhappy marriages are one of the themes of the book.
19	** Hugh Cavendish holds his wife in contempt, and his wife undermines any attempt to discipline his children
20	** Sally Ashworth is married to the physically and emotional distant, unfaithful Alan Ashworth
21	** Alan Ashworth's parents divorced when his was a child
22	** Nicholas Elliot's parents divorced as when he was a child
23	** Troy Alexander has probably one of the best marriages in the book, and even that is strained because his wife frequently disappears for weeks on end.
24	** Leo Beckford divorced prior to taking on his job at Aldminister.
25	* {{NEET}}: Nicholas Elliot, at the beginning of the book, is unemployed, has no family to speak of, had recently been kicked out of university, and shows up at Aldminster looking a place to stay.
26	* NoPartyGiven: Averted in the book version (several characters were explicitly identified as [[UsefulNotes/BritishPoliticalSystem Labour or Conservative]]) but played straight in the TV version.
27	* OneGenderSchool: In the movie version, the school starts out as an all-boys school, however the vote to include female students takes place during the story. The choir remains all-male. The book version also mentions an all-girls school where Leo Beckford works in a addition to his duties at Aldminster.
28	* PreachersKid: All the kids of Hugh Cavendish are the rebellious version.
29	* RichBitch: Bridget Cavendish
30	* SavingTheOrphanage: The characters have to find a way to save the cathedral choir when financial problems threaten its existence.
31	* StalkerWithACrush: Ianthe Cavendish has a crush on Leo Beckford, who does not return the her feelings.
32	* TheCastShowOff: In a way. For the TV version, the cathedral choir was played by a real choir, and Henry Ashworth by a real chorister who was an expert soloist, so of course many opportunities are provided to show off vocal talents. This does not distract from the story but was a key component of the original book, and also led to the soundtrack becoming a platinum album.
33	* WomanScorned: [[spoiler: Ianthe leaks the news of Leo's affair with Sally to the press, because she feels scorned by Leo.]]

Context Literature / TheChoir