Phineas Finn.... you'd think you'd be able to pass on this "political" novel- or "parliamentary" - really? I am supposed to read that - it's like the 21st century and we don't have rotten boroughs any more, do we ? (I really don't know actually) but- you guessed it- that isn't really the point - it is a derring do tale almost worthy of tom jones for his good qualities but more real. How real it is comes in his 1st speech to parliament- how bad that memory it is - though technically it wasn't me that gave that awful speech. I identify so strongly with his failures, hurts and self deluded self justification that it is like a diary at time, though sadly I can't identify with his good qualities and successes. still- this book is ... necessary. and my good friend told me that this in nothing compared to Phineas Redux, but that I must first read, #3 Eustace Diamonds first. Sigh. ( )

I’m re-reading the Palliser novels this summer of which Phineas Finn is the third in the series. This novel is one of the most intensely political of all of Trollope’s novels, following the young, and intensely handsome Finn as he journeys from Ireland to London to make his was in Parliament, winning a seat in a pocket borough controlled by Lord Tulla, and becoming fast friends with Lady Laura Standish, the daughter of a powerful politician, Lord Brentford.. He tries to marry Lady Laura, but she rejects him in favor of the rich Robert Kennedy.

Phineas soon recovers and falls in love with Violet Effingham. However both Lady Laura and her father want Violet to marry Lord Brentford's estranged son, Lord Chiltern, who is also a fiend of Phineas. This proves awkward and hen Chiltern discovers Phineas’ feeling for Violet he challenges Phineas to a duel in Belgium.

Meamwhile, Lord Tulia decides to grant his Pariamentary seat to his brother and Finn is seemingly out of a job. However, as luck would have it, one night leaving the House, Finn walks out withy Robert Kennedy who is attacked by a man trying to kill him. Finn saves Kennedy & in gratitudw, Lord Brentford supports Finn as MP for the seat that he controls. (If all this is confusing, read up on pocket and rotten boroughs that were in exisence until the Reform Bill of 1867 eliminated them). Finn also makes the acquaintance of a charming, foreigner, Madame Max Goesler, a young and beautiful widow of a rich Jewish banker, who is attracted to the handsome Finn..

Finn’s career progresses and he is given a salaried position in government in the government in the office that handles the colonies in which he excels.. In the meantime, Lady Laura and Robert Kennedy’s marriage goes from bad to worse and she ends up leaving him and flees abroad where her husband has no legal rights over her.

Finn visits Ireland with Mr Joshua Monk, a leading Radical politician and a supporter of increased rights for Irish tenant farmers. Under Mr Monk's influence, Finn becomes radicalized and argues in support of a new tenant-right bill. When this happens, the government does not support it and Finn must choose between his loyalty to the government and his political convictions. He chooses the latter, resigns his government position and retires from politics.

With his political career in shambles, Finn seeks consolation from Madame Max. In an unexpected development, she offers him her hand and her wealth in marriage. Finn is greatly tempted, but finally returns to Ireland to marry his faithful, long-time sweetheart, Mary Flood Jones. As a parting reward for his hard work, his party obtains for him a comfortable living as a poor-law inspector in Cork at a salary of a thousand pounds a year.

Trollope’s portrait of politicians, their handlers and the tabloid journalism of its day is highly relatable to anyone who follows politics today. Finn’s position as an Irishman from the middle classes shows the difficulty at the time of a man without private means in breaking into politics and how the patronage of a wealth benefactor was useful, is not essential. 150 years after it was written, this novel still holds interest for modern day readers. ( )

3.5 stars ( )

3 and 1/2 stars really. Phinny Finn redeemed himself in some ways from the 1970s BBC series and incriminated himself in others. And I sorely missed Lady Glencora and grew rather tired of Lady Laura. I don't think I was meant to, but she was always whining about the same choice to Violet and it was repetitive. But, since Trollope is dead, I suppose he won't care. Pretty masterful for a political drama from the 1800s though. ( )

Phineas Finn follows 'Can You Forgive Her?' in Trollope's series of "Parliamentary" novels that are linked by Plantagenet and Glencora Palliser. This is the first one to really dig into the nitty-gritty of politics and the thrill of legislative processes. It actually is interesting, especially as I had very little idea of how the election process worked in the United Kingdom (then, or now).

The Penguin Classics edition has a thorough introduction (that should be read afterwards, naturally) and exhaustive notes concerning Trollope's manuscript and highlighting the to-the-minute real influences incorporated into the novel. I love that someone has researched the articles Trollope was reading and editing at the time he was writing and noted his attempts to forecast in his novels. Trollope was so prolific and so attuned to society his books are an archive of fashions, language and trivia of the mid-Victorian era.

What about the novel itself? I liked it enough - the extra politics was fascinating - but there was a huge flaw. I never believed Phineas was in love. I never believed Violet Effingham was in love. I didn't believe in the romance of any of the characters except for, perhaps, Lady Laura. That's a huge flaw, and if it were not for the fact that I nevertheless enjoyed this novel a LOT more than 'He Knew He Was Right', I'd be rating this lower.

Phineas Finn is a young Irishman who has studied the law and has a minor flirtation with the Girl Back Home who he proceeds to never think about for years at a time. He is made the protege of a young noblewoman interested in politics and at an incredibly young age is elected into the House of Commons. He is slightly corrupted, goes to parties, shilly-shallies, and the like. He is a good seat on a horse and handsome enough for the ladies. The plot of the novel surrounds Phineas' coming to terms with what is honorable and what is right in government and must make hard choices for his future. There are subplots involving a duel in Brussels and several potential marriages, but this is a shockingly focused novel. A pity, like I said, I never believed in Phineas' heart. I'll have to see what becomes of him in 'Phineas Redux'.

The Pallisers

Next: 'The Eustace Diamonds'

Previous: 'Can You Forgive Her?' ( )