Phineas Finn by Anthony Trollope

#2 of the Palliser series

Whereas Trollope's Barsetshire novels concern clergymen and church-related problems, the Palliser novels are about politicians and Parliamentary politics. Those Americans who are mostly clueless about how British government works (why and how a government is dissolved, for instance) may find some of this book incomprehensible or even boring. I can be counted as one of those ignorant Americans. However, surprisingly enough, it turns out that though almost 150 years have passed since this novel was written and though the American and British systems of government differ, things are pretty much the same here and now as they were there and then. For example, the ultimate problem faced by Trollope's "hero" Phineas is one faced today -- can a politician afford to vote as conscience would dictate when he does not agree with the position of the Party to which he belongs? Is there room for principle in politics?

Phineas Finn is a young rising star is Parliament, much aided by his good looks, affable personality, knack of knowing the right people, and just plain luck. He is naive and clueless about how government really works in the beginning of his career, but soon finds that nothing is as simple and straightforward as he had supposed. He is also more than a bit bumbling in his private life, falling in and out of love/fascination with four different young women before the story ends. He does not always behave admirably, but he is always well intentioned and ultimately makes the right choices.

Trollope often surprises by taking the traditional Victorian marriage plot and twisting it a bit. Giving the young man four different "suitors" is certainly a departure, as usually it is the young woman who finds a mate. It is interesting and rather amusing to view the plot from a different angle.

Reading Trollope is comforting because not even his villains are totally evil, and one wishes real life to be like that. Unfortunately, evidence seems to indicate that some people are indeed total villains without redeeming qualities, that pure selfishness and evil do exist. So when I get discouraged about the world, I read Trollope. This is not his best, but it is still very good.