Plot
After the conclusion of a stormy engagement with
her reckless and selfish cousin George, Alice Vavasor,
a young woman with an independent fortune, engaged herself to a country gentleman,
John Grey. The marriage was approved by her father and her highly placed
relatives, but George's sister Kate persuaded her that she was not adapted
to the quiet life of the country, and she broke her engagement. Kate was
anxious that
Interwoven with this plot is the story
of Plantagenet Palliser and Lady Glencora. Glencora, a wealthy
heiress in love with the worthless but charming Burgo
Fitzgerald, had been coerced into a loveless marriage with the heir to the Duke
of Omnium. His austerity and preoccupation with
politics made her life seem dreary and purposeless. Burgo felt that she still
loved him, and almost persuaded her to elope with him from a ball given by his
scheming aunt Lady Monk, who had provided not only the occasion, but also the
funds for her nephew's venture. Mr. Palliser, warned of his wife's danger,
arrived at the ball and took Glencora home, where she
frankly told him that she still loved Burgo, and begged him to let her go so
that he might marry again and have an heir. Although he had just been offered
the eagerly anticipated post of Chancellor of the Exchequer, he refused it and
took Glencora on an extended European journey. Alice Vavasor, who was Lady Glencora's
cousin and confidante, accompanied them and they were later joined by John
Grey, who finally persuaded
GEROULD,
WINIFRED GREGORY;
A GUIDE TO TROLLOPE.
© 1948 Princeton University Press,
1976 renewed PUP
Reprinted by permission of
Url: http://www.anthonytrollope.com/
Academic year 2008/2009
© a.r.e.a./Dr.Vicente Forés
López
©Davinia Moreno Arroyo
Universitat de València
Press
damoa2@alumni.uv.es