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sarahelizabeth205's review against another edition
2.0
This book had entirely too many characters, it was hard to follow.
abetterjulie's review against another edition
3.0
Greatly enjoyed the lengthy character development, but found some of the asides long and unnecessary. Interesting insight into class structure and constraints. I also want to mention the anti-semitism in this book is offensive and frequent toward the end.
velocitygirl14's review against another edition
5.0
This was honestly an easier read than the Phineas Finn books, but with harder, less sympathetic characters to stand. Lizzie Eustace is selfish and self-serving. She wouldn’t be out of place in today’s vapid world.
The whole diamond fiasco just serves to show how shallow and grasping she is. You can tell that Trollope had a lot of fun making fun of society and these women with how sharply he writes her.
The whole diamond fiasco just serves to show how shallow and grasping she is. You can tell that Trollope had a lot of fun making fun of society and these women with how sharply he writes her.
saralynnburnett's review against another edition
5.0
What happens when you marry an older man for his money, he dies, and then his family wants the diamonds back? What lengths will you go to and what lies will you tell? Read to find out!
janey's review against another edition
5.0
This chapter in the Palliser novels had a mystery and many colorful characters, and there was a great fear that one or more of the bad people would not be punished. Thankfully, the good were rewarded and the bad punished and along the way, a number of phrases that I never would have expected in a novel written in the 1860s were used -- most notably "like it or lump it." LOL
smcleish's review against another edition
3.0
Originally published on my blog here& in August 2000.
The third novel in the Palliser series is probably the least political of all of them. It shares characters and the background of London society with the rest of them, but little else.
The novel is dominated by the amoral Lizzie Eustace, whom Trollope keeps on insisting is the heroine. The gentle, submissive and not very bright Lucy Morris fits the stereotypical part of nineteenth century novel heroine better, but Trollope gives her a much more subordinate role. Lizzie is effectively an adventuress, who has made a rich marriage. When her husband dies, she keeps the famous Eustace family diamonds, inventing a story that he had given these heirlooms to her.
The family rather naturally attempts to regain the jewels, but it looks as though Lizzie will manage to keep hold of them, until they are stolen. By this point, she has become really tired of the diamonds; her original lie was only prompted by a kind of instinctive acquisitiveness, but it has got her into all kinds of unwelcome difficulties.
Her character is the main unconventionality in the novel, which is predominantly not particularly unusual. Trollope is always entertaining, but not as challenging as the best of his contemporaries.
The third novel in the Palliser series is probably the least political of all of them. It shares characters and the background of London society with the rest of them, but little else.
The novel is dominated by the amoral Lizzie Eustace, whom Trollope keeps on insisting is the heroine. The gentle, submissive and not very bright Lucy Morris fits the stereotypical part of nineteenth century novel heroine better, but Trollope gives her a much more subordinate role. Lizzie is effectively an adventuress, who has made a rich marriage. When her husband dies, she keeps the famous Eustace family diamonds, inventing a story that he had given these heirlooms to her.
The family rather naturally attempts to regain the jewels, but it looks as though Lizzie will manage to keep hold of them, until they are stolen. By this point, she has become really tired of the diamonds; her original lie was only prompted by a kind of instinctive acquisitiveness, but it has got her into all kinds of unwelcome difficulties.
Her character is the main unconventionality in the novel, which is predominantly not particularly unusual. Trollope is always entertaining, but not as challenging as the best of his contemporaries.
bloodhoney's review against another edition
4.0
Lost a star for unsavoriness and also how infuriated I am about Lucinda Roanoke. This aside, I loved it. Trollope's hunting scene is just--so very, very lifelike and believable. His characters are real, realer than Dickens, and I am very pleased to have made Trollope's literary acquaintance.
pgchuis's review against another edition
5.0
Lizzie Eustace marries a dying man for his money and then schemes to keep control of a diamond necklace which is rightfully a family piece, rather than her personal property. The necklace is stolen and Lizzie lies and schemes away. The third in the Palliser/political series, there is very little politics (although what little there is includes attempts to introduce decimal currency) and not much of the Pallisers either. Lizzie is a wonderful baddie and I am giving this five stars despite a) the obligatory hunting chapters, b) plenty of anti-semitism and c) the fact that I think Lucy should have told Frank where to go.
tenisonpurple's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
The characters are strongly drawn and the plots tightly woven together. A lot of not quite heroism together with some sheer wickedness. Suspense held up well