The Prime Minister

Summary

The Prime Minister, published in 1875-76, is the fifth of Anthony Trollope's Palliser novels. Plantagenet Palliser, now Duke of Omnium, is asked to lead a coalition government because neither party can command a majority; he accepts out of duty rather than ambition, though he is shy, sensitive and ill-suited to the compromises of politics. His wife Glencora, delighted, determines to make his ministry a social success and throws herself into lavish entertaining at their country house of Gatherum Castle. Her generous but careless patronage brings trouble when she encourages Ferdinand Lopez, an adventurer of foreign and obscure origin, to stand for Parliament at Silverbridge, a borough controlled by the Duke's family. The Duke, who refuses to interfere in elections, is publicly embarrassed when Lopez loses and then demands repayment of his expenses, and a newspaper attacks the Prime Minister. The second plot follows Lopez himself, who marries Emily Wharton, daughter of a wealthy barrister, against her father's wishes and in preference to her faithful admirer Arthur Fletcher. Lopez speculates in dubious commodities, deceives his partner Sexty Parker, ruins Parker's family, and tries to extract money from his father-in-law. His wife comes to see his cruelty and dishonesty. Facing ruin and exposure, Lopez throws himself under a train at Tenway Junction. Emily, ashamed and grieving, at first refuses to marry Arthur Fletcher, but after long mourning she accepts him. Meanwhile the coalition grows weak, and after three years the Duke resigns, relieved yet wounded. Trollope's portrait of a scrupulous and lonely man in high power, and of a marriage tested by politics, is among his best, and the novel examines honor in public life, the influence of money, and prejudice against outsiders. Students should notice that the narrator's descriptions of Lopez reflect Victorian prejudices against foreigners and possibly Jews, which Trollope leaves ambiguous.

Top Lessons

• Conscience in power

  The Duke is honest to the point of weakness.

• Marriage under strain

  Glencora's ambitions embarrass her husband.

• Speculation and character

  Lopez's financial schemes reveal his character.

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