Phineas Redux  By  cover art

Phineas Redux

By: Anthony Trollope
Narrated by: Timothy West

Publisher's summary

Exclusively from Audible

In the fourth of the Palliser stories, Trollope follows Phineas Finn's return to the dangerous world of Westminster politics after the death of his wife, Mary.

His career takes a turn for the worse when his political rival is murdered. With all the circumstantial evidence pointing at Phineas, he is thrown under suspicion and eventually finds himself standing trial at the Old Bailey. The situation is complicated by the presence of two women in his life: his old flame Lady Laura, whose estranged husband is determined to destroy Phineas' reputation, and the wealthy and enigmatic widow, Madame Max.

Trollope's ideas of political rivalries, bribery, injunctions, romantic entanglements and a scandal-mongering popular press seem as relevant today as they were in the 1870s. A story full of drama that echoes our modern day political world.

Trollope's work is regarded by some as among the greatest of 19th-century fiction and with his powerful political storytelling it's unsurprising that fans of Trollope's work have included former British Prime Ministers Harold Macmillan and Sir John Major.

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.

What listeners say about Phineas Redux

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Delightful

Timothy West expertly performs a novel that might be more difficult to read on the page. To be honest, I don't understand all the finer points of parliamentary procedure, and since Trollope himself was so ironic about it all, an American reader can feel a bit at sea. West inobtrusively conveys the gist of things, and it's humorously clear that politics itself never really changes. Of course there are a few love stories to sort out, as well as a sensational murder trial. Very funny, occasionally very sad, and always very astute about human nature.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

need not have read Phinneas 1

I'm very happy to see more of Trollope's Palliser novels on Audible - I listened to Phineas Phinn a couple of years ago and started the entrie series over to work up to Phineas Redux. I lked it best so far of the Palliser novels. Best of all, it lacks that overlap in storyline evident in so many of Trollope's works, hangover from the serialized versions - and the women characters come out more sympathetic. The anti-semitism of the period is toned down, too.

The courtroom drama part is as good as a modern day procedural, with Trollope's ironic humour added. The details of Parliamentary "action" may not interest Americans as much as Brits or Canadians but even those sections move along more briskly than in Phineas I. I hope the remaining two novels in this grouping come to Audible soon.

All in all, an excellently narrated Victorian listen - whether or not you've had the time for the story of the younger Phineas.

I wish present day creators of Victorian historical fiction would listen closely and learn.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Totally Absorbing

There is no better reader than Timothy West for this series. He is simply perfect. This performance transports the reader to another place and time. I feel I know the characters and whilst listening I become an observer to the most fascinating events. Beautifully written and superbly narrated. The sheer pleasure of this series is ineffable. Bravo!

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The Best of a Series that Keeps Getting Better

This quote from the Trollope Society website gets closer to pinpointing the excellences of this book than anything I could say:

“There are certain chapters in the middle of Phineas Redux that are Trollope at the highest power ... an absolute modern. No post [second world] war-psychoanalytic realist can teach him anything. He seems in these passages to know all the morbid obscurities of the human heart."

I'll only add that even with all those morbid obscurities running about, a genial, all-pervading sense of humor is never very far offstage, either. And as always, Timothy West makes Trollope even better.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Gripping and thoroughly enjoyable

What did you love best about Phineas Redux?

Returning to old friends- Lady Glen, Madam Max, Lady Laura, Planty Pal and of course Finn. Building on the rich tapestry of their lives already built, this book is perfect for those who want to return to being a fly on the wall in parliament and social scene of London in 1860/70.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Phineas Redux?

Phineas and Madam Max meeting at the Harrington Hall for the first time since their last meeting in 'Phineas Finn'.

Have you listened to any of Timothy West’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Timothy West is amazing as ever, adding so much with his amazing character voices and narrator boom.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Elections, Murder, and Marriage.

Any additional comments?

The recording is frustrating in parts as someone is paying it back, and it's caught by the mic- so there is a faint echo-delay in the background, and the mobile transmission interference (you know it when you hear it!) is recorded several times.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable, strange audio quality

This is a great book, but I've been reading through the series, so best to start from the beginning with these (although you'd get most of the story, but it seems silly not to). My only issue was that the audio quality (on the highest download setting) is a little strange. I think there are background noises in the recording. Didn't effect the good narration too much though. I guess Trollope novels take a long time to record.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Heaven!

A completely blissful experience! The kind or book I put off important work to read because I could not put it down!!!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Delicious in every respect

I’ve spent the pandemic listening to Timothy West read Anthony Trollope. The perfect reader for such sly, delicious, mordant humor. Reading one after another, with characters threading through from one to another is like - but much better than - being caught up in a 19th century Melrose Place, Dynasty or Knots Landing. Except so much better, wittier and engrossing.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A great conclusion to the Phineas Finn story.

I only regret that I can give Timothy West five stars. He deserves fifty for making himself the embodiment of Trollope.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Invested in these characters!

This is a very good series. Great characters, very forward thinking in terms of gender roles. And, of course, there is the incomparable narration of Timothy West. Recommended!

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