The Pallisers
BBC Radio 4 - Classic Serial
First broadcast from 20040125 to 20040411
12 parts
Anthony Trollope (24 April 1815 – 6 December 1882) was one of the most successful, prolific and respected English novelists of the Victorian era. Some of his best-loved works — known as the Chronicles of Barsetshire (e.g., Barchester Towers [1857], Framley Parsonage [1861]) — revolve around the imaginary county of Barsetshire. He also wrote penetrating novels on political, social, and gender issues, and on other topical conflicts of his day.
Series based on Trollope's political novels, dramatised by Martyn Wade. Following on from the success of the Barchester Chronicles, a new 12 part series from the same team, based on Trollope's political novels, involving intrigue, love affairs, financial dealings and murder.
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.
"Of all novelists in any country, Trollope best understands the role of money. Compared with him even Balzac is a romantic." — W. H. Auden
The Palliser novels by Anthony Trollope were written when he was at the height of his powers and was one of Trollope's major series. The Palliser novels, concerned itself with politics, with the wealthy, industrious Plantagenet Palliser and his delightfully spontaneous, even richer wife Lady Glencora usually featuring prominently (although, as with the Barsetshire series, many other well-developed characters populated each novel).
The BBC have a long history of producing Trollope for the radio. Most recently the two great series, The Chronicles of Barset and The Pallisers have been produced by Cherry Cookson, with scripts by Martin Wade. Each of the six Chronicles of Barset were produced seperatelybetween 1993 and 1998, whilst the entire Palliser series was produced for broadcast in 12 episodes in 2004. Both series have been repeated on BBC7.
Cast
Trollope....David Troughton
burgo fitzgerald....Bertie Carvel
frank tregear....Chris Moran
john grey....Mark Bazeley
lady glencora....Sophie Thompson
palliser....Ben Miles
scruby....Chris Moran
trollope....David Troughton
alice vavasor....anastasia hille
chiltern....Scott Handy
george vavasor....Adrian Lukis
isabel....Madeleine Potter
john grey....Mark Bazeley
kennedy....kevin mcmonagle
lady cantrip....Frances Jeater
lady monk....Frances Jeater
mabel....lydia leonard
major tifto....Philip Fox
mary....rachael stirling
mme goesler....Stella Gonet
phineas finn....Conleth Hill
plantagenet palliser....Ben Miles
popplecourt....crispin bonham-carter
silverbridge....Nicholas Boulton
trollope....David Troughton
dramatised by Martyn Wade
original music by Elizabeth Parker
directed by Cherry Cookson
1/12 Lady Glencora's search for romance and happiness begins Martyn Wade's dramatisation of Anthony Trollope's political novels.
2/12 Lady Glencora has married Plantagenet Palliser and Alice is engaged to the disreputable George, but are they content?
As two major new characters - Phineas Finn and Lady Laura - arrive on the scene, we catch up on the news that Lady Glencora has married Plantagenet Palliser. Alice Vavasor, having broken her engagement to John Grey, is now engaged to her disreputable cousin George. But has either lady been true to her heart? More political and romantic intrigue, with newlyweds and new arrivals Phineas and Laura.
Replies
11/12Glencora's daughter Mary falls in love with a man who has neither fame nor fortune, and worst of all is a Conservative.
The story of Glencora and Plantagenet's children takes over as we see that some of their mother's spirit has transferred itself to her children. Their daughter Mary has fallen in love with a man who has neither fame nor fortune, and worst of all is a Conservative!
12/12The final episode sees reconciliation within the Palliser family as Lady Glencora's independence lives on through her children.
This final episode brings reconciliation within the Palliser family and a sense that Lady Glencora's independence of mind will live on through her children as they are forced to decide, as their mother had to all those years ago, between love and duty.
Lady Glencora's children must choose between duty and love. Will the family be reconciled?
Trollope, Anthony - The Pallisers - 2004-04-04 [11 of 12] [BBC7 200...
Trollope, Anthony - The Pallisers - 2004-04-11 [12 of 12] [BBC7 200...
9/12As Plantagenet Palliser wrestles with the difficulties of government, Emily and Ferdinand's new marriage is in trouble.
As Plantagenet confronts the problems of government, Emily and Ferdinand Lopez's new marriage hits trouble from the start.
10/12As Palliser's government comes increasingly under attack, so Ferdinand Lopez's business standing becomes more difficult.
As Plantagenet Palliser's government comes under attack, so Ferdinand Lopez's standing is jeopardised, with tragic results.
Trollope, Anthony - The Pallisers - 2004-03-21 [09 of 12] [BBC7 200...
Trollope, Anthony - The Pallisers - 2004-03-28 [10 of 12] [BBC7 200...
7/12As the world watches, the trial of Phineas Finn continues. Meanwhile Glencora and Plantagenet Palliser receive some news.
by Anthony Trollope: As the trial of Finn continues, Glencora and Plantagenet Palliser's lives are changed forever.
Phineas Finn's trial grabs headlines, and Glencora and Plantagenet receive important news.
8/12Glencora decides on a potentially disastrous course of action to help the Duke of Omnium in his new role as Prime Minister.
Glencora decides on a potentially disastrous course of action to help the Duke of Omnium in his new role as Prime Minister. And as Palliser's domestic arrangements become more difficult, so do those of Mr Wharton and his daughter Emily.
Trollope, Anthony - The Pallisers - 2004-03-07 [07 of 12] [BBC7 200...
Trollope, Anthony - The Pallisers - 2004-03-14 [08 of 12] [BBC7 200...
5/12Phineas Finn's political career is on the rise and he is short of money, but then help is offered from an unexpected quarter. Glencora meanwhile is fearful that the Duke of Omnium may be planning to marry and provide an heir who would take precedence over their own children
6/12Phineas fears his past will affect his career, and with rumours over his love life, a fresh setback awaits.
Trollope, Anthony - The Pallisers - 2004-02-22 [05 of 12] [BBC7 200...
Trollope, Anthony - The Pallisers - 2004-02-29 [06 of 12] [BBC7 200...
3/12 Lady Glencora is expecting a baby, and Lady Laura disappoints Phineas by accepting Kennedy's proposal. John Grey pursues Alice.
Having turned her back on Burgo forever, Lady Glencora has committed herself fully to her marriage and is expecting a baby, which Plantagenet hopes will be a son and heir. Lady Laura has disappointed Phineas by accepting Kennedy's proposal, and John Grey continues to pursue Alice, no matter how many times she rejects him.
Lady Glencora expects a baby and Laura causes disappointment. Stars Sophie Thompson.
4/12Phineas Finn has at last won a seat in Parliament, but his romantic ambitions are going less smoothly.
Phineas Finn has at last won a seat in Parliament. But his romantic ambitions are going less smoothly as he finds himself falling once again for a young lady whose heart lies elsewhere. Little does he know that he is soon to cause anguish to a new arrival on the scene
Trollope, Anthony - The Pallisers - 2004-02-08 [03 of 12] [BBC7 200...
Trollope, Anthony - The Pallisers - 2004-02-15 [04 of 12] [BBC7 200...