The Duke's Children (Unabridged) [Audio Download]

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' is the last (sixth) part of the Palliser-novels by Anthony Trollope, and he begins it abruptly: by the end of the first sentence of the first chapter Lady Glencora Palliser (who figured so charmingly in all other novels of the series), is dead...

This leaves Plantagenet Palliser, Duke of Omnium, not only utterly bereaved as he loved his wife dearly, but also makes him sole responsible for their three children: Lord Silverbridge (the eldest son), Lady Mary (only daughter), and Lord Gerald (the second son). Before long the Duke is confronted with problems by each of his children: Lord Silverbridge takes to betting and horse-racing and then falls in love with an American girl, Lady Mary falls in love with a respectable but penniless gentleman, and Lord Gerald gets kicked out of university! Worst of all, the Duke, who was never the most social and convivial of men (to put it mildly), finds himself unable to discuss matters openly and frankly with his children. At the core of the novel lies a deceivingly simple dilemma for the Duke: can he, who has been a Liberal politician all his life and has striven to reduce the gap (not to say gulf) between the classes, square it with his conscience to forbid his children to marry 'beneath their class'?

As always, Trollope describes in his typical easy style the various thoughts and feelings of the principal characters in great detail, and he does so without ever getting boring. And, contrary to some of his other novels, all principal characters are extremely 'likeable' people: they have their faults for sure, but you cannot help but sympathize with both the Duke in his desperate struggle to be a good father, and his children in their justified 'revolt' against what they feel to be matters in which they, as adults, should decide for themselves. In the end it's crystal clear (at least to us as readers) that they all love each other dearly and you cannot escape hoping that things will work out allright in the end.

Some of the earlier novels in the series are quite gloomy, but this one is truly optimistic in showing that, despite differences of opinion, parents and children can still love and respect each other. I loved all Palliser-novels, but this is surely one of the best. A worthy end to a great series!

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.