More of the Trollope project, a rather long term read all Trollope at a very leisurely pace. This one was at times deeply frustrating. The hero, John Calidagte, wagers away his inheritance and goes out to Australia to make his fortune. Suprisingly enough, he does then returns to England to marry the girl of his dreams. The problem arises that he also seems to fall in love or somehow agree to marry just about every woman he encounters in his life and overall, while seeming to have a kind heart, is essentially a weak character. I felt almost sorry for him but I stopped short when I realized that he just didn't seem to have any clue as to what he was doing. The other characters of the novel provide more interest but since the plot is fairly minimal it does end being more a series of character studies. I did enjoy being annoyed beyond all reason by Mrs. Bolton, who never really did come round. She was a lovely contrast to Mr. Caldigate senior, whom I think I would have gotten on with much better.

John Caldigate goes to Australia in disgrace after running up debts at university and being disinherited by his father. There he mines for gold and returns seven years later a rich man. He is reconciled with his father and marries the daughter of a very religious family, whom he admired before he went away. Then a woman he knew in Australia (Mrs Smith aka Mrs Caldigate) claims he is married to her and John is tried for bigamy.

More than any other Trollope novel I have read, this is a really suspenseful page-turner. Trollope is sly in glossing over and then only gradually revealing the true nature of John's dealings with Mrs Smith, in contrast to his usual habit of being up front with the reader. The sections in Australia were brief enough to be interesting, the evidence turned up by Mr Bagwax was reminiscent of a modern crime novel and the Boltons were excellent characters. I struggled to believe much in the love Mrs Bolton and Hester allegedly felt for one another, but the determination of the Boltons to convict John was shocking and convincingly narrated. Trollope created an even more than usually morally compromised/nuanced character in John Caldigate and overall there was a pacy, "modern" feel to the whole story. ( )

After unwise cohabitation in Australia, man is accused and convicted of bigamy in England. Perjury of accusers eventually proven.

A minor Trollope with an unusually sensational theme, the story of a prodigal son who emigrates to Australia, returns rich, marries the daughter of a Purian family and is later accused of bigamy by his former mistress. Trollope abandons here his habitual narrative honesty when dealing with suspense and ends up handling the plot rather clumsily and dishonestly. There are echoes of Phineas Redux and The last Chronicle of Barset in its subject matter, but it lacks their psychological insight. It has nonetheless interest for Trollopians: the Australian scenes are fine, as well as the trial and investigation. A particular highlight is Samuel Bagwax, the ingenious post-office civil servant who solves the mystery, renouncing in the way to an all expenses paid trip to Sydney (no small sacrifice). ( )

Whoa. Trollope does Australia and scandal (serious scandal: our hero lives with a woman outside of marriage for quite some time). Kind of remarkable, and I do love me some Trollope. Not his best writing, but the matter-of-fact way he handles his audacious subject matter is impressive.