A Trollope Novel to Grasp Quickly

This novel is an engrossing, mature Anthony Trollope, published whilst in the midst of writing his Palliser novels and other works. It is modest in length compared to his Palliser novels, at about a third their length; some two hundred and fifty pages or so in hard copy. The novel is self-explanatory in terms of the issues and dilemmas that Trollope explores with a high and fine degree of understanding and sensitivity. Trollope amply displays his ability to get into the minds of his characters and takes the listener (or reader) there too. Some may find issues of high birth and its continuity, and a Victorian sense of a daughter’s duty a bit of a chore, but Trollope’s depiction of the agonies that characters undergo so believable. The listener is quickly lured and captured, wanting to know the path that the characters will follow and any resolution. Trollope manages a surprise that will cause listeners and readers to do a double take and subsequently to throw out a raft of questions, all of which centre around what the listener or reader really thinks about the issues explored. Trollope may be a little guilty in his treatment of some characters. The audio-book is read with exceptional skill and sensitivity by Tony Britton. His voice characterisations are impeccable and he manages to employ his actor’s to point things for listeners. Audible is to be thanked for making this audio-book part of their members’ Plus Catalogue. Listen and enjoy.

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How things are.

We’re so used to Trollope’s wry humour & the satisfying ending to his stories, this pulls you up a bit short.
Nevertheless less I really enjoyed this book. The character narration was excellent apart from interpretation of the money lenders voice.
I think Anthony Trollope needed to tell things how they often are.

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Not Trollope's best

Possibly his most irritating heroine ever! Pull yourself together dear and get over it. Clearly the author wanted to tell the story of a particular kind of love and a particular kind of woman who might experience that love. To his contemporaries it might have sounded noble and self sacrificing but to modern ears (mine at least!) it sounded maudlin and selfish. However, Trollope tells the story well, as always, and the narrator brings it to life very nicely.

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The first Anthony Trollope to disappoint.

I love everything I have read by Anthony Trollope, but not this one. The narration was like the curate's egg, good in parts. The depiction of the female protagonist was poor, an affected female voice which irritated. It was not helped by the poor plot which could have been told in half the pages.

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1 person found this helpful

Trollope

I enjoy these stories for the intrigue suspense and elegant language. I often come back to Trollope and it never disappoints.

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Brilliant

Fantastically read
Great story with a twist
Will read it again in the future, enjoyable

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Really enjoyed this - though sad.

I’d recommend this - though as with a number of Trollope’s heroines i get rather exasperated!!

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Insight into Victorian social milieu

I needed to persevere initially as the novel was wordy and a little agonising ! However it improves in pace and is an insight into Victorian social milieu with a number of the usual stereotypes and predictable anti semitic tropes. The plot however becomes almost magnetic and I was compelled to finish. There is good character development and only in the denouement are the fates’ of their tragic flaws revealed.

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Wonderful reading by Tony Britton

Early Trollope, a bit verbose but marvellous exposition of the psychology of the characters. One has to accept the social mores of the time(1840s 1860s?) but I was still annoyed by the ending.

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So Powerful

We loved it. Quite tragic but humane. An amazing understanding of human nature. Truly worth hearing or reading!

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