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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
Re-read during a week’s sojourn in Glasgow and surrounds. It’s not original to say that Trollope’s anti-heroine, Lizzie Eustace, is reminiscent of Thackeray’s Becky Sharp—others have done so—but it’s true. The difference, I think, is that Lizzie can’t accept short-term losses for long-term gains, and Becky can. (Perhaps the real difference is a class one: Lizzie doesn’t grow up in genuine poverty, and Becky does.) Lizzie’s early, calculated marriage to a sickly lord who dies young produces a familial conflict over a magnificent diamond necklace, worth £10,000 in the 1860s (about £1.5 million in today’s money). Lizzie insists that it’s hers outright; the lawyers insist it belongs to the estate. She won’t give it up; the lawyers won’t give in. Around the central conflict swirl mercenary “friends”, MPs and Under-Secretaries, shady jewelers and dodgy gentlemen-about-town. Trollope’s books are always long, but always completely involving: he’s as much a world-builder as any sf/f writer, and far better at writing women than Dickens. If you want a new Victorian obsession, start here. My copy, the Oxford World’s Classics edition from 2011 edited by Helen Small, has two helpful appendices, explaining the Palliser novels’ internal chronology and real-world political contexts.
What good fun!! A vivid cast of interesting, exasperating characters.
funny
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Lizzy would have gotten away with it if it wasn't for men. The lesson is: Men will get in between a girl and her diamonds!
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’ll come back to this. But after reading two Trollope novels back to back, his plots become very similar. Especially with the love interests. Taking a break then will come back again.
Another beautifully read Trollope. Timothy West’s reading of Trollope is just exquisite. Lizzie Eustace and all her mischief and deceptions have been an absolute delight.
challenging
funny
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is the third book in Trollope’s Palliser novels series and after I struggled a bit with Phineas Finn, I felt this was a return to form for dear Anthony.
I listened to this on audio, narrated by Timothy West and as per, the man is a narrating genius!
The story in a nutshell is that beautiful Lizzie Eustace comes into possession of the titular Eustace Diamonds, a hugely expensive necklace, following the death of her husband Sir Florian.
She maintains it is a gift and hers to keep, Mr Camperdown the family lawyer says otherwise and wants to force her to give it up. Her cousin Frank takes her side and her new lover Lord Fawn says he will only marry her if she gives it up. Gossip and speculation intensify and Lizzie is driven to increasingly desperate acts as her truthfulness is doubted, yet her need to keep the necklace mounts.
This book is just fabulous! Trollope returns to what he does best, writes women brilliantly, plumbs human nature, makes you laugh, gets you wound up and cross and just entertains. Although the book is a chunk, it gives you time to get to know the characters and you get taken on a rollercoaster. First I loved Lizzie, then I loathed her, was exasperated, frustrated and loved her again. There’s so much life and humour in his writing. I did so want her to end up happy in the end but perhaps she did get the ending she deserved!
I feel ready for the next book Phineas Redux now!
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes