The Prime Minister

By: Anthony Trollope

Narrated by: Timothy West

Length: 27 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

Exclusively from Audible

Plantaganet Palliser, Prime Minister of England - a man of power and prestige, with all the breeding and inherited wealth that goes with it - is appalled at the inexorable rise of Ferdinand Lopez. An exotic impostor, seemingly from nowhere, Lopez has society at his feet, while well-connected ladies vie with each other to exert influence on his behalf - even Palliser's own wife, Lady Glencora. But when the interloper makes a socially advantageous marriage, Palliser must decide whether to stand by his wife's support for Lopez in a by-election or leave him to face exposure as a fortune-hunting adventurer.

The fifth audiobook in Trollope's six-volume Palliser series, it is a story of social, sexual and domestic politics. The Prime Minister raises one of the most enduring questions in government - whether a morally scrupulous gentleman can make an effective leader.

With beautifully developed characters, Trollope intertwines the political and domestic stories, analysing the politics behind both government and marriage.

The author of 47 novels and many short stories he was one of the most prolific and successful novelists of the Victorian era with his work remaining popular and well-loved throughout the ages.

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 Palliser series. He has also narrated volumes of Simon Schama's A History of Britain and John Mortimer's Rumpole on Trial.

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

Public Domain (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Trollope + West = Unbeatable prose

Whithout a doubt Timothy West is the BEST reader of Trollope on Audible. And this story, the next to last in the Palliser series, is one of the most affecting.

Another great performance

Another energetic and entertaining performance by Timothy West of the Trollope world that makes this novel so pleasant and interesting. Listening while reading the novel enhanced the reading experience and brought the characters alive and painted the scenes and faces of each character.

Wonderful!

The problem alluded to by other reviews appears to've been corrected, as I heard the complete novel. The incomparable Timothy West illuminates Trollope's prose in such a way that makes the experience of listening to it far more rewarding than silent reading ever could.

Perfect Diction and Seamless Rhythm!

The narration of this wonderful book by Timothy West is simply superb. Because he is so obviously absorbed in the story and the characters, the whole experience is rich and authentic. Timothy is such a consumate actor that he sweeps the listener into Trollope's world. Simply sublime! Interesting insight into the isolation of the lonely and self-doubting leader. This is a fascinating installment in this brilliant and engrossing series. Emily's resistance became a little tiresome but Trollope was probably endeavouring to protect the honour of his heroine. What a marvellous team: Timothy and Trollope! This series is pure bliss!

Another great Timothy West performance!

Timothy West really becomes Trollope, in both senses of the word. He is the perfect reader for Trollope.

Favorite author and favorite narrator

After a lapse of two or more years,the second listening still as entertaining as the first, human nature in politics apparently unchanged over the past 200 years. I enjoy the team of Trollope and West very much. Timothy West could probably make an iPhone instruction manual interesting.

Palliser PM

This sprawling novel follows two main plots and sets of characters. Previous readers of the Palliser novels find Plantagenet Palliser, now Duke of Omnium and a member of the House of Lords, inveigled into becoming prime minister of an unstable coalition government. Meanwhile his wife, the inimitable Glencora, decides to reinvent herself as a grand political hostess, to her husband's exasperation and ultimate misfortune.

The second plot strand follows the story of Ferdinand Lopez, one of Trollope's most memorable villains. When Lopez courts Emily Wharton, her barrister father initially forbids the marriage to a "greasy Portuguese, probably a Jew", and indulges in one of the memorably xenophobic outbursts in the annals of fiction. Emily accuses her father of prejudice and eventually wins the right to marry Lopez; yet despite his racism, her father turns out to have been right about Lopez's character and motives. Trollope is always a keen observer of human psychology, and in Lopez he presents an extraordinary portrait of a narcissistic personality, who over the course of the novel subjects his wife and her father to escalating psychological abuse, while piece by piece losing his own grip on reality. When Lopez decides to enter politics as a liberal candidate, and is encouraged by the meddling Glencora Palliser, the two plot lines converge in a scandal which threatens to bring down Palliser's government.

I adore Trollope, and the Palliser novels are among the jewels in his crown. The Prime Minister contains some thrilling moments, but is a little marred by the last section of the book. After Lopez's death, which is surely one of the highpoints of the novel, the widowed Emily struggles to re-establish herself. As always, Trollope is psychologically spot on when he describes the victim mentality she has developed as a result of her husband's psychological abuse; but listening to her droning on about how she deserved the way she was treated becomes terribly tedious when repeated in chapter after chapter. Lopez might have been a bad egg, but he made the plot go like a firecracker when he was onstage, and without him, the storyline can't but suffer the loss. The political sections are amongst the best in these novels, but again, the most exciting bits occur earlier, and the last section altogether feels as if, like the coalition government, it is running out of steam. For this reason, I am only giving four stars instead of five to the actual story, but it's still a great listen, and no one can read these books quite like the incredible Timothy West.

Enjoy your Job not the Prestige

I liked the Plantagenet Palliser storyline in that people today must deal with decisions regarding life quality versus job prestige.
I was a bit disappointed with the Ferdinand Lopez storyline. I really did not feel that it was characteristic of that type of character to choose that way of ending life. I think that he would more convincingly have taken some others with him.
Nevertheless, as always, a very entertaining book! Well read by Timothy West.

Before Downton Abbey there was The Prime Minister

What made the experience of listening to The Prime Minister the most enjoyable?

Trollope's fifth of the Palliser Novels surely must have served as inspiration for Downton Abbey. The truly noble sensibilities of the Prime Minister (The Duke of Omnium) and of his bright and charming, but not always appropriately sedate wife, Lady Glencora, remind the reader of the main characters in Downton Abbey.

Timothy West makes all the characters, the ones you love and the ones you hate, real. This is one of those books whose spirit permeates the way you feel about your day! It also leads you to take up activities that will allow you to keep listening!

Readers of The Prime Minister will want to go back to the first Palliser Novel, Can You Forgive Her?, and become acquainted with the engaging cast of characters who move in and out of the series.

Which scene was your favorite?

About 4 hours and 30 minutes into Part 3, there is an eloquent statement by the Duke about why he has remained a liberal in Parliament.

Any additional comments?

Trollope improves the way I think, and the way I talk. He writes the best letters for his characters to send (though not especially in The Prime Minister).

Not Trollope's Best

The plot lumbers along endlessly. None of the characters inspire one to root for them. The issue seems to be true for all main characters - Emily, her father, and the Duke- fighting with their own stubbornness. Trollope must have been going through a bad time when he wrote this.