Phineas Finn

By: Anthony Trollope

Narrated by: Timothy West

Length: 23 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

Exclusively from Audible

In Phineas Finn, the second of the Palliser series, Trollope balances the rival demands of public and private life, entangling political ambitions with the experiences of love.

Phineas Finn, an irresistible but penniless young Irish barrister enters Parliament and comes to London leaving behind him an Irish sweetheart, Mary Flood-Jones. In London, Phineas wins friends on all sides and is admitted into high society. However, he also falls more-or-less in love, first with politically-minded Lady Laura Standish, then with Violet Effingham, and finally with wealthy widow Madame Max Goesler.

With his character, reputation and prospects at stake, Phineas must make some ethical choices in regards to his career, political beliefs and romantic life - but what must he sacrifice?

Trollope deals with a diverse set of topics including reform and the Irish question, the position of women in society, and the conflict that integrity and ambition pose, the latter still being as relevant today as it was in the 1860s.

Phineas Finn is the first of Trollope's works to feature the affairs of the parliamentary world as a major interest. Three of the main characters are based on Benjamin Disraeli, William Gladstone, and the English reform politician John Bright.

Narrator Biography

Timothy West is prolific in film, television, theatre, and audiobooks. He has narrated a number of Anthony Trollope's classic audiobooks, including the six Chronicles of Barsetshire and The Pallisers series. He has also narrated volumes of Simon Schama's A History of Britain and John Mortimer's Rumpole on Trial.

Timothy's theatre includes King Lear, The Vote, Uncle Vanya, A Number, Quarter, and Coriolanus and his films include Ever After, Joan Of Arc, Endgame, Iris, The Day of the Jackal. On television, Timothy has appeared in Broken Biscuits (BBC), Great Canal Journeys (across 3 Series), regular role of Stan Carter on EastEnders (BBC); Last Tango in Halifax; Bleak House, Bedtime and Brass.

Public Domain (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Wonderful!

Wonderful story, beautifully read. A timely look at politics, if only it was so civil today. Thank you, Mr. West!

Loved It!

Timothy West is terrific to listen to, and through Audible, I've become a great fan of Anthony Trollope. Reading a 19th century British novel can be tedious, but listening to one, like Trollope's, is extraordinarily engaging.

Simply glorious

Superb narration by Timothy West who perfectly embodies humor, good heart and wisdom about the fundamental nature of human behavior

One of the finest audiobooks ever

I cannot too highly recommend Trollope as read by the incomparable Timothy West. Download this now and begin a journey to enjoy all the works of Trollope recorded by West. They accompany me on daily walks to my endless enjoyment. This is the best audible has to give.

Timothy West Is My Homeboy

I have joined the Trollope Society because of the sheer delight that is to be found in this narrator's interpretation of Anthony Trollope's work. I love all the detail and subtlety. The writing takes you to another place and time in the most absorbing and fascinating way. I feel as if I am part of that world when I am reading. Robin Gibb was brought out of a coma by the singing of his family around him. I have told my husband that I want Timothy West reading Anthony Trollope if I am ever in such a dire situation. His reading is sublime. I love every single word. This production is simply perfect. Highly recommended.

incomplete

The three parts of the book I downloaded are not the completion of the story as described in the summary on the site. What a let down. Otherwise, it's great.

Okay so the genre isn't even close to Austen

Sometimes it's good to take a chance. I love the historic detail even if it is fictional. I loved the vagaries of parliament and young Phineas' heart. However, I am glad I read "Can You Forgive Her" before taking on Phineas.

The story made me so curious about the history of politics in Britain, I started researching political history. This is the other reason I started reading as a kid. I will have to buy the written copy; Although, the narration was excellent!

To reiterate what another reviewer wrote, do not make this your first Trollope.

Lost love in a parliamentary setting

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the second in the Pallisier Series. Again previous characters crop up now and again but only to provide a bigger context to the actual action by the new characters.

Trollope was a marvellous creator of believable heros and heroines and relates their emotions and thoughts with total reality. Its not a skill but a gift to be able to do that and he has that gift in trumps. Its as though he has gotten into the mind of the characters. It makes them three dimensional and live and breathe and utterly believable as real individuals.

Again Timothy West is wonderful at narrating and brings even more life to an already lifelike story despite the fact it is a tale from a long lost age.

Highly recommended to those that enjoy Trollope and those that want to understand why parliamentary reform was so necessary in the mid 19th century.

Excellent reading with one unfortunate problem

Timothy West's readings of Trollope are superb, the best you can find. However, he makes one unfortunate decision in this particular novel: he renders Madam Max Goesler with a rather thick foreign accent. On the page she is a charming woman, extremely witty and well-spoken. In West's rendering she comes across as slightly sinister–something not justified by her behavior in the novel. I think Trollope's point about this character is that the prejudice against her is unjustified (Lady Glencora's for example, imagining her having a yellow-skinned baby with black, black hair etc.). This prejudice is supposed to be caused by her lack of social standing (her father was a simple lawyer) as much, or more than, her foreign ways and speech; that is, when Madam Max seems threatening, Lady Glencora overreacts. On the page Madam Max exhibits no traits of non-standard syntax or usage; in fact, she seems more literate and sprightly in her speech than the British characters. So I don't imagine her having the accent of a German spy! On this one, I'm going to stick to reading the book on the page.

Great narrator!

Who can dare to write a review of Trollope? The book is wonderful, as are all of the Palliser novels (and all those others, too!)

I am writing this only to praise the splendid narration of Timothy West. He is a superb actor who can give each character a distinguishing voice, but who does not go ridiculously overboard as some narrators do.

West keeps you engaged through all 25 hours, and let’s give a little credit also to Trollope. I am on to the next one with Mr. West, “The Eustace Diamonds.”