Phineas Redux (Oxford World's Classics) - Softcover

Trollope, Anthony

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0199537747 ISBN 13: 9780199537747

Publisher: Oxford Paperbacks, 2008

Synopsis

After the death of his Irish wife, Phineas Finn returns to London and to the House of Commons. But though drawn back apparently irresistibly, he never approaches politics with the zest of earlier days. Phineas survives an attempt on his life by the half-crazed and jealous Robert Kennedy, but his reputation is seriously damaged by the scandalous association with Lady Laura, Kennedy's wife. When he is put on trial for murder his disenchantment with his former life is so great that he never again enters the charmed inner circle of power. In some of his most powerful writing, Trollope charts Phineas's sad progress towards maturity and wisdom. Phineas Redux (1874) is the fourth of the six Palliser novels, published between 1864 and 1880. As a group they provide us with the most extensive and telling exposé of British life during the period of its greatest prestige.

About this title

About the Author:

Anthony Trollope (24 April 1815 – 6 December 1882) was one of the most successful, prolific and respected English novelists of the Victorian era. Noted fans have included Sir Alec Guinness (who never travelled without a Trollope novel), former British Prime Ministers Harold Macmillan and Sir John Major, economist John Kenneth Galbraith, American novelists Sue Grafton and Dominick Dunne and soap opera writer Harding Lemay. Born in London, he attended Harrow School as a free day pupil for three years from the age of seven because his father's farm, acquired for that reason, lay in that neighbourhood. After a spell at a private school at Sunbury, he followed his father and two older brothers to Winchester College, where he remained for three years. He returned to Harrow as a day-boy to reduce the cost of his education. He had some very miserable experiences at these two public schools. They ranked as two of the most élite schools in England, but Trollope had no money and no friends, and was bullied a great deal. At the age of twelve, he fantasized about suicide. In 1841, he moved to Ireland, taking up a position as postal surveyor's clerk. Significantly, many of his earliest novels have Ireland as their setting. Although he had been happy and comfortable in Ireland, he felt that as an author, he should live within easy reach of London. In 1859, he sought and obtained a position in the Post Office as Surveyor to the Eastern District. Later in that year he moved to Waltham Cross, about 12 miles from London in Hertfordshire, where he lived until 1871. He died in London in 1882, and is buried in Kensal Green Cemetery. His literary reputation dipped somewhat during the last years of his life, but he regained the esteem of critics by the mid-twentieth century.

About this edition

• Publisher: Oxford Paperbacks
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0199537747
• ISBN 13: 9780199537747
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 800
• Editor: Whale John C.
• Illustrator: Huskinson T. L. B.