Palliser series Archives – Rebecca Reads

The Eustace Diamonds by Anthony Trollope

October 4, 2011 by Rebecca Reid

Having finished my third epic-length Anthony Trollope novel (the third in the Palliser series), I’m beginning to think I’m not really a fan of Mr. Trollope’s writing style. His novels have wonderfully constructed and carefully developed plots. The characters are well rounded and personable; I feel I know them upon finishing a novel, and therefore it’s fun to see the recurring characters throughout the series. Nevertheless, the novels all seem to miss something spectacular that makes me want to jump up and pull the next one off the shelf.

The Eustace Diamonds (published serially in 1871) concerns different characters from the previous two books in the Palliser series, although Glencora Palliser does have a few cameos in London society (from the first two novels) and Mr and Mrs Grey (from Can You Forgive Her?) appear once. One needn’t have read the first two novels to enjoy this one, as there is no connecting storyline between the three novels.Continue Reading

Phineas Finn by Anthony Trollope

December 17, 2010 by Rebecca Reid

It’s my pleasure to welcome Anthony Trollope to my site as a part of the Anthony Trollope Classics Circuit. Today Mr. Trollope is also visiting It’s All About Books with The Way We Live Now and nomadreader with thoughts on The Warden. See the schedule to see where else he’s visited this week, and if you are interested in participating, sign up for the next tour on the Ancient Greek Classics.

Phineas Finn is a young Irish law student studying in London when a family friend gives him a unique opportunity: a chance to stand for election to Parliament. Phineas Finn: The Irish Member, the second in the “Palliser” novel series by Anthony Trollope, chronicles Mr. Finn’s first five years of political development and personal growth in the high society of British politics.

Although my first Trollope experience, Can You Forgive Her? (thoughts here) left me a little bit cold, reading the second of the novels in the series has warmed me to the first novel. I’m glad to say that I enjoy Trollope, and I anticipate that at some point I’ll reread Can You Forgive Her? to get the full picture again.Continue Reading

A Non-Review of Can You Forgive Her? by Anthony Trollope

September 24, 2010 by Rebecca Reid

Usually when it comes time to write my thoughts about a book I’ve read, I have no trouble putting things into an “enjoyment” category of some kind, whether that is because I both enjoyed reading it and liked it or because I didn’t like it at all or because there was value to reading it even though I didn’t actually like the book.

My first Anthony Trollope novel kind of transcends “enjoyment” categories. Even having finished it, I can’t decide what I think of it. It’s not that I disliked it, and in fact towards the end I did find myself incredibly interested in how things were to be resolved. I liked Alice. But I likewise can’t say that Can You Forgive Her? (published 1864-1865) was an enjoyable or even worthwhile read. Even on retrospect I feel rather blasé toward the novel. I don’t hate it, although I feel that I should hate it, given the frustrating Victorian attitudes in it.Continue Reading

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