The Duke's Children (Penguin Classics)

In this, the sixth and final Palliser novel, the brilliant but emotionally stunted Duke of Omnium is left by the death of his wife Glencora to deal with the marriages of his three grown-up children. Two fall for partners who the Duke feels are inappropriate; and the battle of wills begins. The resolution is delightfully realistic; the struggles on the way are moving and powerfully described. I found the book wonderful, despite the death at the beginning of Glencora, surely (with Madame Max Goesler) one of the most intriguing characters in the series.

I enjoyed the Palliser series enormously. The books are entertaining, suffused with a dry humour which becomes irresistible on close acquaintaince and filled with wisdom not only about the politics for which Trollope is famous but also about relations between the sexes. I've reviewed all of them; for my money the best is "Can You Forgive Her" (all you ever needed to know about men and women), which also by good fortune is the first, so you can read it to see if you fancy the rest. I enjoyed "The Eustace Diamonds", "Phineas Finn"; and "The Duke's Children" immensely too, and "Phineas Redux and "The Prime Minister" somewhat less (these two focus less on relationships and more on politics, so others may disagree). But if you have a couple of months spare to enter a world of fascinating characters, love, passion and politics, read the lot! You won't regret it.

Summary: a fitting end to an epic series.

Wonderful (16/17 people found this helpful)

It took me a long time to bring myself to read this book because I just couldn't imagine life without Glencora Palliser, yet Trollope pulls it off masterfully. His focus now shifts to Plantaganet's world entirely and shows how he is forced to radically change his stance on life if he is to survive without his wife. It is interesting to see how much Glencora is made almost more real by her absence, the fact that she is no longer around to shield and protect her husband shows how much she did achieve. Palliser's mainstay has now been taken away from him and his children are about to disobey him in the most cutting way by marrying the wrong people. It is in this novel, right at the end of his life that Palliser actually does all his growing up and awakens to the shock of a hugely different world than he had safely imagined cocooned away with his parliamentary procedures. A radical novel, yet told, as ever with beautiful humour and real insight into people and politics. A masterpiece.

The Duke's Children (Penguin Classics)

Anthony Trollope

Reader Reviews:

Sensitive, wry and thoroughly entertaining (0/0 people found this helpful)

Wonderful (16/17 people found this helpful)

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