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{{Short description|1876 novel by Anthony Trollope}}
{{about|a novel|other uses|Prime Minister (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox Book
{{Infobox book
| name = The Prime Minister
| name = The Prime Minister
⚫
| image = Trollope.prime minister.jpg
| title_orig =
| caption = First edition title page
| translator =
⚫
| image = [[Image:Trollope.prime_minister.jpg|200px]]
| image_caption =
| author = [[Anthony Trollope]]
| author = [[Anthony Trollope]]
| illustrator =
| illustrator =
| cover_artist =
| cover_artist =
| country = [[England]]
| country = England
| language = [[English language|English]]
| language = English
| series = [[Palliser novels|Palliser]]
| series = [[Palliser novels|Palliser]]
| subject =
| subject =
| genre = [[Novel]]
| genre = [[Novel]]
| publisher = [[Chapman and Hall|Chapman & Hall]]
| publisher = [[Chapman and Hall|Chapman & Hall]]
| pub_date = November 1875 to June 1876 (serial in 8 parts); 4 Volumes, June 1876 (book)
| pub_date = November 1875 – June 1876 (serial in 8 parts); 4 volumes, June 1876 (book)
⚫
| media_type = Print ([[Serial (literature)|serial]] & [[Hardcover|hardback]])
| english_pub_date =
⚫
| media_type = Print ([[Serial (literature)|Serial]] & [[Hardcover|Hardback]])
| pages =
| pages =
| isbn =
| isbn =
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}}
}}


'''''The Prime Minister''''' is a [[novel]] by [[Anthony Trollope]], first published in 1876. It is the fifth of the "[[Palliser novels|Palliser]]" series of novels.
'''''The Prime Minister''''' is a [[novel]] by [[Anthony Trollope]], first published in 1876.<ref>"The Oxford Companion to English Literature", Margaret Drabble, ed., Oxford University Press, 1985</ref> It is the fifth of the "[[Palliser novels|Palliser]]" series of novels. [[Robert Caro]] has called it "the greatest political novel I ever read."<ref name="caro">{{Cite podcast |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/13/books/review/podcast-robert-caro-power-broker-interview.html |title=Robert Caro on 50 Years of 'The Power Broker' |website=The Book Review |publisher=The New York Times |host=Gilbert Cruz |date=September 13, 2024}}</ref>


==Synopsis==
==Plot summary==
When neither the [[British Whig Party|Whigs]] nor the [[Tories]] are able to form a government on their own, a fragile compromise [[coalition government]] is formed, with [[Plantagenet Palliser]], the wealthy and hard-working Duke of Omnium, installed as [[Prime Minister]]. The Duchess (previously known as [[Lady Glencora]], before her husband inherited a dukedom) attempts to support her husband by hosting lavish parties. Palliser is initially unsure that he is fit to lead, then grows to enjoy the high office, and finally becomes increasingly distressed when his government proves to be too weak and divided to accomplish anything.
When neither the [[British Whig Party|Whigs]] nor the [[Tories (British political party)|Tories]] are able to form a government on their own, a fragile [[coalition government]] is formed, with Whig [[Plantagenet Palliser]], the wealthy and hard-working Duke of Omnium, installed as [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]]. The Duchess, formerly Lady Glencora Palliser, attempts to support her husband by hosting lavish parties. Palliser, initially unsure that he is fit to lead, grows to enjoy his high office, but becomes increasingly distressed when his government proves to be too weak and divided to accomplish anything. His own inflexible nature does not help.


A significant sub-plot centres on Ferdinand Lopez, a financially overextended city adventurer of undisclosed parentage, who wins the favour of Emily Wharton. She marries Lopez despite her father's objections and soon has cause to regret her choice. Lopez meets the Duchess at one of her parties and is encouraged to run for Parliament. He campaigns against a popular former suitor of Emily's, as well as a local tradesman, and withdraws from the contest when he sees he has no chance. He then insists that the Duke reimburse him for the election expenses, since the Duchess had led him to believe that he would have the Duke's endorsement. The Duke's strong sense of personal honour forces him to give in to Lopez's shameless (and desperate) demands, but this causes a minor political scandal when it becomes known. It appears to many people that Palliser has used his great influence and wealth to buy a seat in Parliament for a supporter. This causes the Duke great unhappiness. Meanwhile, Lopez's high-risk gambles lead to financial ruin and, after trying to persuade the wealthy Lizzie Eustace (protagonist of ''[[The Eustace Diamonds]]'') to run away with him to Guatemala, he takes his own life. After a period of mourning, Emily is persuaded to accept her former suitor.
A significant sub-plot centres on Ferdinand Lopez, a financially overextended City adventurer of undisclosed parentage and ethnicity, who wins the favour of Emily Wharton. She marries him despite her father's objections, in preference to Arthur Fletcher, who has always been in love with her. As in Trollope's earlier Palliser novel ''[[Can You Forgive Her?]]'', in which the heroine also has to choose between two suitors, the enticing and charismatic suitor is revealed to have many unpleasant traits, and Emily soon has cause to regret her choice. Lopez meets the Duchess at one of her parties, and she unwisely encourages him to stand for Parliament in the local Silverbridge constituency. He campaigns against Arthur Fletcher, but withdraws from the contest when he sees he has no chance of winning. Lopez writes to the Duke, insisting on being reimbursed for his election expenses since the Duchess had led him to believe that he would have the Duke's endorsement (despite having his expenses already paid in full by his father-in-law).


The Duke is furious with his wife, who disobeyed his explicit order not to interfere in the election, but his strong sense of personal honour obliges him to meet Lopez's demands. This causes a minor political scandal when it becomes known, as it appears to many people that the Duke used his great influence and wealth to try to buy a seat in Parliament for a supporter. This causes him great unhappiness, but he is stoutly defended in the House of Commons by Phineas Finn, eponymous hero of ''[[Phineas Finn]]'' and ''[[Phineas Redux]]'', two earlier books in the Palliser series.
⚫
Eventually the coalition government breaks apart and the Duke resigns, to both his regret and relief.

Lopez's high-risk gambles lead to his financial ruin and, after trying to persuade the wealthy Lizzie Eustace (protagonist of ''[[The Eustace Diamonds]]'') to run away with him to Guatemala, a proposition she somewhat contemptuously rejects, he takes his own life by throwing himself in front of a train. After a period of mourning, Emily is persuaded, without too much difficulty, to marry Arthur Fletcher.

⚫
Eventually the coalition government breaks up and the Duke resigns, with both regret and relief, and withdraws into private life, hoping to be of use to his party again in the future.

==References==
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
* {{StandardEbooks|Standard Ebooks URL=https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/anthony-trollope/the-prime-minister}}
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*{{gutenberg|no=2158|name=The Prime Minister}}
** {{StandardEbooks|Standard Ebooks URL=https://standardebooks.org/collections/palliser|Display Name=the Palliser novels as}}
⚫
* {{gutenberg |no= 2158 |name= The Prime Minister}}
* {{librivox book | title=The Prime Minister | author=Anthony Trollope}}


{{Palliser novels}}
{{Anthony Trollope}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Prime Minister, The}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Prime Minister, The}}
[[Category:1876 novels]]
[[Category:1876 British novels]]
[[Category:Novels by Anthony Trollope]]
[[Category:Palliser novels]]
[[Category:Novels first published in serial form]]
[[Category:British political novels]]
[[Category:Chapman & Hall books]]
[[Category:Books about prime ministers of the United Kingdom]]

Latest revision as of 18:29, 17 December 2024

The Prime Minister
First edition title page
AuthorAnthony Trollope
LanguageEnglish
SeriesPalliser
GenreNovel
PublisherChapman & Hall
Publication date
November 1875 – June 1876 (serial in 8 parts); 4 volumes, June 1876 (book)
Publication placeEngland
Media typePrint (serial & hardback)
Preceded byPhineas Redux 
Followed byThe Duke's Children 

The Prime Minister is a novel by Anthony Trollope, first published in 1876.[1] It is the fifth of the "Palliser" series of novels. Robert Caro has called it "the greatest political novel I ever read."[2]

Plot summary

[edit]

When neither the Whigs nor the Tories are able to form a government on their own, a fragile coalition government is formed, with Whig Plantagenet Palliser, the wealthy and hard-working Duke of Omnium, installed as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The Duchess, formerly Lady Glencora Palliser, attempts to support her husband by hosting lavish parties. Palliser, initially unsure that he is fit to lead, grows to enjoy his high office, but becomes increasingly distressed when his government proves to be too weak and divided to accomplish anything. His own inflexible nature does not help.

A significant sub-plot centres on Ferdinand Lopez, a financially overextended City adventurer of undisclosed parentage and ethnicity, who wins the favour of Emily Wharton. She marries him despite her father's objections, in preference to Arthur Fletcher, who has always been in love with her. As in Trollope's earlier Palliser novel Can You Forgive Her?, in which the heroine also has to choose between two suitors, the enticing and charismatic suitor is revealed to have many unpleasant traits, and Emily soon has cause to regret her choice. Lopez meets the Duchess at one of her parties, and she unwisely encourages him to stand for Parliament in the local Silverbridge constituency. He campaigns against Arthur Fletcher, but withdraws from the contest when he sees he has no chance of winning. Lopez writes to the Duke, insisting on being reimbursed for his election expenses since the Duchess had led him to believe that he would have the Duke's endorsement (despite having his expenses already paid in full by his father-in-law).

The Duke is furious with his wife, who disobeyed his explicit order not to interfere in the election, but his strong sense of personal honour obliges him to meet Lopez's demands. This causes a minor political scandal when it becomes known, as it appears to many people that the Duke used his great influence and wealth to try to buy a seat in Parliament for a supporter. This causes him great unhappiness, but he is stoutly defended in the House of Commons by Phineas Finn, eponymous hero of Phineas Finn and Phineas Redux, two earlier books in the Palliser series.

Lopez's high-risk gambles lead to his financial ruin and, after trying to persuade the wealthy Lizzie Eustace (protagonist of The Eustace Diamonds) to run away with him to Guatemala, a proposition she somewhat contemptuously rejects, he takes his own life by throwing himself in front of a train. After a period of mourning, Emily is persuaded, without too much difficulty, to marry Arthur Fletcher.

Eventually the coalition government breaks up and the Duke resigns, with both regret and relief, and withdraws into private life, hoping to be of use to his party again in the future.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "The Oxford Companion to English Literature", Margaret Drabble, ed., Oxford University Press, 1985
  2. ^ Gilbert Cruz (13 September 2024). "Robert Caro on 50 Years of 'The Power Broker'". The Book Review (Podcast). The New York Times.
[edit]
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