The Prime Minister

by Anthony Trollope, Nicholas Shrimpton

Overview

'though a great many men and not a few women knew Ferdinand Lopez very well, none of them knew whence he had come' Despite his mysterious antecedents, Ferdinand Lopez aspires to join the ranks of British society. An unscrupulous financial speculator, he determines to marry into respectability and wealth, much against the wishes of his prospective father-in-law. One of the nineteenth century's most memorable outsiders, Lopez's story is set against that of the ultimate insider, Plantagenet Palliser, Duke of Omnium. Omnium reluctantly accepts the highest office of state; now, at last, he is 'the greatest man in the greatest country in the world'. But his government is a fragile coalition and his wife's enthusiastic assumption of the role of political hostess becomes a source of embarrassment. Their troubled relationship and that of Lopez and Emily Wharton is a conjunction that generates one of Trollope's most complex and substantial novels. Part of the Palliser series, The Prime Minister 's tale of personal and political life in the 1870s has acquired a new topicality in the early twenty-first century. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780191620409
Publisher:	OUP Oxford
Publication date:	05/12/2011
Series:	Oxford World's Classics Series
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Nicholas Shrimpton is Emeritus Fellow of Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford University.

Table of Contents

VOLUME I

VOLUME II

Editorial Reviews

• "She became aware that she had thought the less of him because he had thought the more of her. She had worshipped this other man because he had assumed superiority and had told her that he was big enough to be her master. But now, -- now that it was all too late, -- the veil had fallen from her eyes. She could now see the difference between manliness and 'deportment."
• "He was one of those men who, as in youth they are never very young, so in age are they never very old."

― Anthony Trollope, The Prime Minister

From the Publisher

This substantial text is the fifth in what is known as Trollope’s Palliser Novels, but one needn’t wait to enjoy THE PRIME MINISTER‚ for it doesn’t require an understanding of the earlier installments. Initially, this audiobook may intimidate the listener with its lengthy sentences and majestically voiced narrator. However, before long, the listener will be immersed in all the elements of good storytelling, especially Simon Vance’s superior narration. Vance’s performance underscores this timeless study of human nature with its interwoven subplots, social commentary, political intrigue, and well-developed characters. There are subtle notes of humor and irony as well. Vance’s character distinctions are nuanced and effective, much like Trollope’s prose style. L.B.F. 2013 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine

MARCH 2013 - AudioFile