It had originally been Trollope's intention to publish The Duke's Children in twelve monthly parts and four volumes but (possibly at the publisher's suggestion) it was dramatically reduced. I came to The Duke's Children fresh from The Prime Minister and was expecting a book of similar length - about 320,000 words and was surprised to find a (relatively) slim volume.
He's about to learn that parents do not always get their way. Lady Helen has fallen in love with - and wishes to marry - Frank Tregear, the penniless son of a poor squire, which the Duke cannot countenance, not least because he sees echos of what might have happened when he married Lady Glencora. Silverbridge (his elder son, actually called Plantagenet, but always known by his title) and Gerald are destined to be sent down from Oxford and Cambridge respectively and to run up gambling debts, occasionally in eye-watering sums. He seeks to protect and guide his three adult children, which is easier said than done when none of them wishes to be guided. Her husband, Plantagenet Palliser, the Duke of Omnium, is nearly paralysed by grief and struggling - at the same time - to adjust to no longer being prime minister, or even in office. The story opens to probably the worst news of all: Lady Glencora Palliser is dead.
An exceptional read and highly recommended provided that you've read the earlier books in the series.
This final Palliser novel is a tale of love, family relationships, loyalty, and principles, as well as a compelling exploration of wealth, pride, and the strength of love.Summary: It's the final book in the Palliser series and the shortest of them all. Though the duke's noble plans for his children are ultimately thwarted, he comes to realize that parents can learn from their children as well. While his two sons, sent down from university in disgrace, rack up gambling debts, the duke's only daughter yearns to marry the poor son of a country squire. To complicate matters, he must also deal with the willfulness of his three adult children as he tries to guide and support them-his plans for them are quite different from their own. The brilliant conclusion to the Palliser novels, this touching story follows the elderly Duke of Omnium, the former prime minister of England, as he struggles to overcome his grief at the loss of his beloved wife, Lady Glencora.
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