Phineas Redux

Phineas Redux by Anthony Trollope

Phineas Redux opens with England in political turmoil after Mr. Daubeny's Conservative ministry, having held power for a year, dissolves Parliament rather than resign despite repeated defeats in the Commons, including a loss on Mr. Palliser's decimal coinage motion. Amid this upheaval, Liberal Party managers such as Barrington Erle, Mr. Ratler, and Mr. Bonteen canvass for strong candidates and recall Phineas Finn, an Irishman formerly in office who had resigned rather than abandon a principle, and who now lives a dull, discontented life as a minor government official in Dublin following the death of his wife, Mary. Erle writes urging Finn to stand for the borough of Tankerville against the entrenched Conservative Mr. Browborough. After much deliberation, Finn resigns his Irish post and travels to England to pursue the seat, aware he is risking his modest fortune and security for the chance to return to the political and social world he still longs for. Before the contest, Finn visits Lord Chiltern and Lady Chiltern (formerly Violet Effingham) at Harrington Hall, where Lord Chiltern now serves as Master of the Brake Hounds. There he renews old friendships, meets Adelaide Palliser (courted diffidently by Gerard Maule) and encounters the eccentric Lady Baldock, whose daughter has become a nun. He also learns of Lady Laura Kennedy, once his close confidante, now estranged from her husband Robert Kennedy and living abroad in Dresden with her father, the Earl of Brentford. At Tankerville, Finn's agent Mr. Ruddles persuades him to campaign chiefly on disestablishment of the Church, a cause he had not previously championed but adopts with unexpected fervor. Despite spirited speeches, he narrowly loses the election to Browborough amid suspicions of bribery, though his allies believe he can win the seat on petition through a scrutiny of the vote. Meanwhile, Mr. Daubeny stuns Parliament by announcing, in a speech at East Barsetshire, his intention to disestablish the Church of England himself, a move that throws both parties into confusion: Conservatives are horrified at the betrayal of their principles, while Liberals like Mr. Gresham are outmaneuvered, having expected to claim this reform as their own. Amid furious debate on the Address, Mr. Daubeny narrows the government's opposition to a slim majority, causing dismay among Liberal strategists such as Ratler and Bonteen. While awaiting the Tankerville scrutiny, Finn visits the deranged and religiously obsessive Robert Kennedy at Loughlinter, who accuses him of alienating Lady Laura's affections and forbids him from visiting her, behavior confirming that Kennedy is unfit for his wife's return. Finn then travels to Dresden, where Lady Laura passionately confesses that she has always loved him and always will, though she insists she wants nothing from him but devoted friendship, since she can never be free to remarry. Finn also converses with the aged, enfeebled Earl of Brentford about Lord Chiltern and Lady Laura's situation. Back in London, Finn calls on the Duke of St. Bungay, who explains that Daubeny's Church bill will likely stall in committee, and reflects on the political and moral confusion sown by a Conservative government advancing a Liberal cause. In January, Finn returns to Tankerville for the scrutiny; his agent proves bribery on Browborough's side, and Finn is declared duly elected, quickly telegraphing the triumphant news to Lady Laura. Erle warns him that party loyalty will require voting against the very Church measure he championed at the hustings. The narrative then returns to Harrington Hall, where Lord Chiltern is embroiled in a bitter dispute with the Duke of Omnium's estate over foxes poisoned and trapped in Trumpeton Wood, and where Lady Chiltern has invited both Finn and the clever, wealthy Madame Max Goesler to stay, along with Adelaide Palliser and the younger Lady Baldock, in anticipation of a lively house party as the new parliamentary session approaches.

By Anthony Trollope · First published 1873 · Genre: Victorian Literature, Political Fiction, Realism · 60 chapters · 304,380 words

First lines

The circumstances of the general election of 18 -- will be well remembered by all those who take an interest in the political matters of the country. There had been a coming in and a going out of Ministers previous to that -- somewhat rapid, very exciting, and, upon the whole, useful as showing the real feeling of the country upon sundry questions of public interest. Mr. Gresham had been Prime Minister of England, as representative of the Liberal party in politics. There had come to be a split among those who should have been his followers on the terribly vexed question of the Ballot. Then Mr. Daubeny for twelve months had sat upon the throne distributing the good things of the Crown amidst Conservative birdlings, with beaks wide open and craving maws, who certainly for some years previous had not received their share of State honours or State emoluments.

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politics · society · class · romance · betrayal · justice · friendship · ambition · scandal · moral dilemmas · Victorian era · character study

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