Orley Farm Volume 1 by Anthony Trollope is a richly woven Victorian novel that delves into themes of legal drama, inheritance disputes, and social morality within the 19th-century English society. The story revolves around the contested inheritance of Orley Farm, a valuable estate left by the deceased Sir Joseph Mason. The plot thickens when a codicil (an addition to a will) surfaces, seemingly written by Sir Joseph Mason, which bequeaths Orley Farm to his second wife, Lady Mason, and her son, Lucius Mason, bypassing his eldest son from his first marriage, Joseph Mason. This unexpected change in inheritance sparks a fierce legal battle, as Joseph Mason questions the authenticity of the codicil and accuses Lady Mason of forgery. Lady Mason, a central figure in the narrative, is portrayed with complexity and nuance. She faces intense scrutiny and societal pressure as she defends the legitimacy of the codicil. Her son, Lucius Mason, is determined to uphold their claim to the estate, driven by loyalty and the desire to protect his mother’s honour. The novel’s rural setting and the depiction of the landed gentry provide a vivid backdrop for the unfolding drama.