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Can You Forgive Her?
- Narrated by: Timothy West
- Length: 28 hrs and 8 mins
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Can You Forgive Her?
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Summary
Exclusively from Audible
Can You Forgive Her? is the first of the six in the Palliser series.
Trollope inextricably binds together the issues of parliamentary election and marriage, of politics and privacy. The values and aspirations of the governing stratum of Victorian society are ruthlessly examined, and none remains unscathed.
But above all Trollope focuses on the predicament of women. 'What should a woman do with her life?' asks Alice Vavasor of herself, and this theme is echoed by every other woman, from her friend, the uncomfortably married Lady Glencora, to her aunt, the coquettish Mrs. Greenow, as well as her clear-headed cousin, Kate.
Alice is torn between marrying her ambitious but violent cousin George or the bland but gentlemanly John Grey, ending up both accepting and rejecting each of them in turn and thus transgressing from the Victorian moral code.
In contrast, her friend Lady Glencora is forced to marry the rising politician Plantagenet Palliser to prevent the worthless Burgo Fitzgerald from wasting her vast fortune.
Trollope was considered one of the most successful and respected English writers of the Victorian era. With more than 40 published novels, they are regarded by some as among the greatest of 19th-century fiction. Many of his works covered political, social and gender issues. Fans of his work have included former British Prime Ministers Harold Macmillan and Sir John Major.
Narrator Biography
Timothy West is prolific in film, television, theatre and audiobooks. He has narrated a number of Anthony Trollope’s classics, including the six Chronicles of Barsetshire and The Pallisers series. He has also narrated volumes of Simon Schama’s A History of Britain and John Mortimer’s Rumpole on Trial. Timothy West’s theatre roles include King Lear, The Vote, Uncle Vanya, A Number, Quarter, and Coriolanus. His films include Ever After, Joan Of Arc, Endgame, Iris, The Day of the Jackal. On television, Timothy has appeared in Great Canal Journeys, Last Tango in Halifax and Bleak House.
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What listeners say about Can You Forgive Her?
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- fennie
- 07-02-23
Trollope
Can these narrations of Trollope, who in my humble opinion cannot be bettered. Timothy West is superb a marriage made in heaven.
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- Lady Macbeth
- 17-02-24
An absorbing narrative which incorporates both domestic and political interactions.
This is a long book with intertwined stories some of which are more engaging than others but they all contribute to a most satisfactory literary conclusion. Timothy West’s narration is superb.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Emma Gentry
- 21-04-24
A good Trollope
Read amazingly well. It’s my second read and forgot I liked the series so well, can’t wait to continue onto the next now….
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Victoria
- 23-12-12
Another excellent narration by Timothy West
Another wonderful narration of Trollope by Timothy West. An absolute joy to listen to. The characters are brought to life brilliantly and I became completely immersed in the story, which is still as relevant today as it was when it was written.
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11 people found this helpful
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- Clementi
- 30-12-13
Can I Forgive Her? (I'm Very Unforgiving!)
What made the experience of listening to Can You Forgive Her? the most enjoyable?
Timothy West really is a genius at reading Trollope. He is utterly perfect for it and I wish I'd found his versions of Trollope's years ago.
His characterizations of the characters are wonderful. I particularly love his Mr Cheese-Acre which is beyond delicious! I do think that Charlie Fairstairs and Mr Cheese-Acre rather deserve each other (not to give anything away!) but perhaps that is because I'm rather a mean-spirited person at times!
What other book might you compare Can You Forgive Her? to, and why?
Can You Forgive Her is not a book which easily compares to any others by other writers - I suppose in a way it has some Thackeray moments but Trollope does them so much better that I would ask "why bother with Thackeray!"
Have you listened to any of Timothy West’s other performances? How does this one compare?
I've listened to a few of West's Trollope performances and ALL, without exception so far, are beyond glorious.
Any additional comments?
This book is delightful. It's the first of the Palliser series and gives a very good introduction to both Trollope as a writer and the Palliser series (I read them a little the wrong way round but reading Trollope's books out of order works fine if you can get your head around characters becoming older rather than younger!)
Lady Glencora (whom I loved with a passion in Phineas Redux) is shown here in all her spoilt, childish and silly glory but, underneath all of that, there is always a warmth to Trollope's characters which somehow redeems even the worst of them!
As to whether or not I can forgive Alice Vavasor - I'm not sure. I found her quite irritatingly annoying at times but was gripped to discover what catastrophe she would walk herself into next! I think her pride is what really creates her downfall (if you think there IS a downfall) and her somewhat permanent and fixed inability to recognize that is irksome at times!
However, as always with Trollope, this is a beautifully 'drawn' book. The characters really do develop faces in your head as you read/hear them read. You can imagine the smells, the costumes, the flouncing out of the rooms, the pained grimaces of the long-suffering (and slightly dim at times!) Planty Pall and the exaltations of Lady Glencora when she feels she has gotten the better of him - I always imagine her sitting hugging her knees with delight at first and then, the slow and dawning realization that she has, once again, behaved appallingly falls upon her and she sits shame-faced like a child sulking, until she finally resolves to create another crisis to divert attention!
In all, this is a book I would more than highly recommend. It truly is Trollope at his best and, if ever Trollope could have chosen someone to voice his words, I can't help but feel sure that he would have chosen Timothy West.
Bravo to both Trollope and West for this fantastic romp!
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- LilyRose
- 21-06-12
Absolutely Lovely
Beautifully read by Timothy West - he really is so good! A classic tale with comedy and sadness and great characters. And a good, long story, too! Highly recommended.
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3 people found this helpful
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- george paizis
- 24-02-19
An affective adventure
The dilemmas faced by women at a time when certain freedoms were being discovered. The choices made had social consequences ... the risk of ruin, the assumption of responsibility for one’s actions, the motives for erroneous decisions, loyalty, redemption and forgiveness.
All told with humour and excellently read.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Trixie
- 02-07-13
Wonderful world of Trollope!
Listening to any of the excellent Trollope novels is like settling down into the most comfortable armchair you know. Timothy West is as sublime as ever. Bliss!
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2 people found this helpful
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- BD
- 08-04-21
All round great
Loved the story and the wonderful narration West is the best for Trollope. Hope Netflix do this
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- Mrs Belinda Newey
- 26-03-20
Magical
I Have not laughed aloud so frequently whilst listening to a novel for years . Timothy West narrated it to perfection. What an extraordinary observer of human nature was Anthony Trollope.
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