The Prime Minister

By: Anthony Trollope

Narrated by: Simon Vance

Audie Award Nominee, Classic, 2013

Unscrupulous financial speculator Ferdinand Lopez, aspiring to marry into respectability and wealth, has society at his feet, with well-connected ladies vying with each other to exert influence on his behalf. Even Lady Glencora, the wife of Plantagenet Palliser, prime minister of England, supports the exotic imposter.

Palliser, respectable man of power and inherited wealth, is appalled by the rise of this man who seemingly appeared out of nowhere. When Lopez achieves his socially advantageous marriage, Palliser must decide whether to stand by his wife’s support for Lopez in a by-election or leave him to face exposure as a fortune-hunting adventurer.

This fifth installment in Trollope’s six-volume Palliser series is a brilliantly subtle portrait of love, marriage, and politics.

About the author: Anthony Trollope (1815–1882), the author of 47 novels, was one of the most prolific and respected English novelists of the Victorian era. He is best known for his series of books set in the English countryside as well as those set in the political life, works that show great psychological penetration.

Public Domain (P)2012 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Considered by modern critics to represent the apex of the Palliser novels…The novel brilliantly dissects the politics of both marriage and government.” ( Merriam-Webster’s Encyclopedia of Literature)

“In The Prime Minister Trollope was working at the top of his powers. It is a book for when one wishes to be challenged, rather than merely charmed, by a novel.” (Nicholas Shrimpton, emeritus fellow of Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford University)

“ The Prime Minister is the key work in the Palliser series.… The political storyline tells us that although the practicalities of political life demand frequent moral compromise and social discomfort, a man of the highest rank can be found who for a brief interlude will bring to the office of Prime Minister an idealism which is rare amid the hurlyburly of government.” (David Skilton, emeritus professor, Cardiff School of English, Communication, and Philosophy)

Another Excellent Book in the Palliser Series

I read all of the Palliser Novels and Barchester novels years ago. Having gotten fed up with contemporary fiction I went back to them, but as audio books. They are absolutely terrific. Trollope's characters are so real you can find them among your friends and neighbors. Their problems are universal, abuses of power, unsuitable marriages, forgiveness. Simon Vance is an outstanding reader. Each voice is unique and understandable. He even carries the characters voices across all the books. He adds so much to the story, it is like a radio drama.

A book that needs real pages

Simon Vance is one of the best readers, and I love Trollope, but somehow the audiobook lacked verve. I had read it avidly years ago. The political sections- especially about members of parliament who had been in opposition and were now in power- seemed only too timely.

Fantastic

Part of The Palisser series. Great story and wonderful read by the great Simon Vance. More Pallisers, please.

If you like MasterPiece Theater........

What did you love best about The Prime Minister?

This is a great story. Time period of Downtown Abby, not as complex, but still good.

Depressingly retrograde politics

What did you like best about The Prime Minister? What did you like least?

The writing is skillful and pretty engrossing, although some of the political digressions begin to get wearisome. What was quite disappointing about this book, though, was the incredibly awful view of society that Trollope puts forth. He is saying, in pretty blatant terms, that pretty much only upper crust, well-established Englishmen, preferably blond, are the only people who are honorable or trustworthy. The villain of the piece is a dark-haired, dark-complexioned man of Portuguese extraction, suspected of being a Jew. The women are essentially all ninnies who cause vast amounts of trouble when they don't do what their superiors, i.e., fathers or husbands, tell them to do. I just have no use for this sort of novel, except, I suppose as a historical artifact.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Change the plot.

Which character – as performed by Simon Vance – was your favorite?

They all irritated me, through no fault of the narrator.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Absolutely not.

Any additional comments?

I was quite disappointed. I've had some acquaintance with Trollope's Barchester Towers, and I'd expected better from this novel.