Can you forgive her?, Volume 1

by Anthony Trollope

Part One Of Two Parts

CAN YOU FORGIVE HER? is the first of the six Palliser novels. In this volume Trollope examines parliamentary election and marriage, politics and privacy. He dissects the Victorian upper class. Issues and people shed their pretenses under his patient, ironic probe.

But it is on women and their predicament that Trollope particularly focuses. "What should a woman do with her life?" asks Alice Vavasor. And each woman, being different and unique, has her own answer, from the uncomfortably married Lady Glencora to the coquettish Mrs. Greenow, to Alice's clear-headed cousin Kate.

"Anyone who thinks the women's movement began with Gloria Steinhem needs Trollope for perspective." (B-O-T Editorial Review Board)

Genres: Classics

Nook

First published January 1, 1865

About the author

Anthony Trollope became one of the most successful, prolific and respected English novelists of the Victorian era. Some of Trollope's best-loved works, known as the Chronicles of Barsetshire, revolve around the imaginary county of Barsetshire; he also wrote penetrating novels on political, social, and gender issues and conflicts of his day.

Trollope has always been a popular novelist. Noted fans have included Sir Alec Guinness (who never travelled without a Trollope novel), former British Prime Ministers Harold Macmillan and Sir John Major, economist John Kenneth Galbraith, American novelists Sue Grafton and Dominick Dunne and soap opera writer Harding Lemay. Trollope's literary reputation dipped somewhat during the last years of his life, but he regained the esteem of critics by the mid-twentieth century.
See also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_...

Reviews

[Usansay · Rating 5 out of 5]

After years of badgering from my English major mother, I've finally made it through my first Trollope, and as usual, Mom is right. Trollope is such a charming narrator (I almost said droll, but that's probably because the man's name practically *is* droll. Anthony Drollope.) He keeps inserting these intimate asides like you're together at a dinner party and he's recounting this saga about people you both know. I always love a book featuring characters I can imagine being friends with, and I can definitely imagine befriending Alice. I look forward to savoring the rest of the Palliser Novels.

[Diana Tilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is so fabulous. I don't know why it took me so long to read a Trollope novel. Thoroughly enjoyable, and better than Dickens, in my opinion.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a marvelous storyteller.

[Kathrin Peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such fun and so modern. The main characters are women who are all facing big decisions. Beautifully written.

[Leslie Hickman · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far its a bit different from the BBC series. In the series it begins with Lady Glencora and her beauxs...in the book it begins with her cousin. Very interesting though! & I am only in vol. 1...it got better as I went. I almost have to wonder if the difference between the two (BBC and tne novel) is that Laura in BBC is Kate, Violet is Alice and Oswald is George. Not sure though I must continue reading. I do have to finish vol. 2 before vacation though in one week!

[Wendy Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trollope is a great writer of my favorite genre and time-period. Can't wait to get to Vol. II of this series.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book needs a good abridging It is too redundant.