"Poverty, to be picturesque, should be rural. Suburban misery is as hideous as it is pitiable"

In this quote, author Anthony Trollope is expressing his belief that poverty is more visually appealing when it is found in rural areas rather than in suburbs. He recommends that the suffering and battles of hardship are more bearable and even beautiful when set versus the backdrop of a rural landscape. However, he also acknowledges the severe reality that hardship exists in suburban areas also, which it is just as pitiable and heartbreaking. Trollope's words highlight the plain contrast between the picturesque countryside and the bleakness of suburban hardship, advising us that hardship is a universal concern that knows no borders.