Scan barcode
A review by ruthiella
The Eustace Diamonds by Anthony Trollope
3.0
The Eustace Diamonds is the third book in the Palliser series. The plot revolves around the titular diamonds and whether or not beautiful yet shallow Lizzie Eustace received them as a gift from her late husband or indeed stole them from the estate. Lord Fawn, a minor character last seen in Phineas Finn, is pulled into the controversy when he proposes marriage to the young, rich widow. In the meantime, Lady Eustace works her charms to manipulate her cousin, parliamentarian and lawyer Frank Greystock, while she actively works to discredit the plain governess Lucy Morris who loves Frank.
I agree, with my goodreads friend Steve that Trollope is uncharacteristically mean spirited throughout much of The Eustace Diamonds. And that endless back and forth over the diamonds in the first half of the book does grate. Luckily, the story picks up once the action moves to Portnay, Scotland and Lady Eustace’s rather dodgy new friends Lord George and Mrs. Carbuncle arrive on the scene. Bonus points too for cameos by fan favorites Lady Glencora and Madam Max Goesler.
I think, however, Lizzie may have successfully batted her crocodile-teary eyes to me as well, because by the end of the book, I didn’t want her to get her just deserts after all. And Frank…well, granted was lied to, but he behaved very badly and should have suffered more for it. That said, it is impossible for me to read Victorian literature without my 20th century (and increasingly 21st century) lenses on. So many Trollope novels revolve around money: who has how much or little, who needs more, how they manage to get more (if they do) or lose it and what such money affords them both literally and figuratively. The Eustace Diamonds is in that respect classic Trollope; money (Lizzie’s wealth, Frank and Lord Fawn’s comparative poverty) is the fuel that propels much of the story. But I also think, from a modern viewpoint The Eustace Diamonds really underscores the vulnerability of unmarried middle and upper-class women in the Victorian Era: Lucy, Lizzie and poor Lucinda, Mrs. Carbuncle’s niece, are very much at the mercy of men, more so if they are poor but even if they are not.
I agree, with my goodreads friend Steve that Trollope is uncharacteristically mean spirited throughout much of The Eustace Diamonds. And that endless back and forth over the diamonds in the first half of the book does grate. Luckily, the story picks up once the action moves to Portnay, Scotland and Lady Eustace’s rather dodgy new friends Lord George and Mrs. Carbuncle arrive on the scene. Bonus points too for cameos by fan favorites Lady Glencora and Madam Max Goesler.
I think, however, Lizzie may have successfully batted her crocodile-teary eyes to me as well, because by the end of the book, I didn’t want her to get her just deserts after all. And Frank…well, granted was lied to, but he behaved very badly and should have suffered more for it. That said, it is impossible for me to read Victorian literature without my 20th century (and increasingly 21st century) lenses on. So many Trollope novels revolve around money: who has how much or little, who needs more, how they manage to get more (if they do) or lose it and what such money affords them both literally and figuratively. The Eustace Diamonds is in that respect classic Trollope; money (Lizzie’s wealth, Frank and Lord Fawn’s comparative poverty) is the fuel that propels much of the story. But I also think, from a modern viewpoint The Eustace Diamonds really underscores the vulnerability of unmarried middle and upper-class women in the Victorian Era: Lucy, Lizzie and poor Lucinda, Mrs. Carbuncle’s niece, are very much at the mercy of men, more so if they are poor but even if they are not.