The third and least political novel of the Palliser series, The Eustace Diamonds concerns the beautiful pathological liar Lizzie Greystock. Determined to marry into wealth, Lizzie snares the ailing Sir Florian Eustace and quickly becomes a widow. Despite the brevity of their marriage, Lizzie still inherits according to the generous terms of Sir Florian’s will, which include the Eustace diamonds. When the Eustace family solicitor, Mr. Camperdown, begins to question her legal claim to the family heirloom, Lizzie begins to weave a tangled web of deception and crime to gain possession of the diamonds.
Enlisting the aid of her cousin Frank Greystock, much to the dismay of his fiancée, Lucy Morris, Lizzie seeks to both avoid legal prosecution and have a true love affair, first with Frank, and later with Lord George de Bruce Carruthers. Considered a satire of the acceptance of the corrupting influence of money and greed in Victorian society, Trollope’s novel blends elements of mystery, politics, and romance in a memorable and thought-provoking work.
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"The first time I read this book, I rollicked along enjoying the amusing story of an out-of-control, selfish, beautiful, rich, young widow, merrily doing whatever she wanted and leaving a wake of destruction behind her. This time, it was a slower, more thoughtful group read. I hadn't noticed the very dark tone to the subplot of the "romance" between a penniless young woman, and a young lord. Her only attraction for him was that she didn't want to marry him, had an uncontrollable physical aversion to his touch, and was desperate to escape. He wanted to possess and subdue her and punish her for rejecting him. He planned to forbid her to ride, thus removing the only pleasure she had in life. She escapes into madness on the day of the forced marriage. This story of sexual sadism and frigidity surprised me. I wonder what Trollope's contemporaries made of this? Did they read it the same way I did, or is it that I am looking at the story with 21st-century, post-Freudian sensibility and reading more into it than is actually there?"
— Kilian (5 out of 5 stars)
“The Eustace Diamonds is a novel about the scandal and yet the ubiquity of lying…That Lizzie…is such a source of pleasure to the reader, and commands reluctant admiration from many in the novel, is a consequence of her combination of quick-wittedness, youth, and complete absence of moral conscience.”
— Helen Small, fellow in English, Pembroke College, Oxford“For readers [Lizzie is] a masterpiece of comic invention. The brilliant so-polite-but-deadly dialogue, posh bitchy female spats, and hilariously unimpressed servants, make this a joy to read.”
— Daily Mail (London)“Among narrator Simon Vance’s many talents is his flair for censorious dowagers, filling their voices with lofty pique and the creaking of stays…As with all Trollope’s novels, the author’s voice is ever at large examining the moral territory. To this editorial presence, Vance gives a limber pacing and genial tone that are exactly in tune with Trollope’s humane sensibility.”
— Washington Post“Lizze Eustace is at the heart of the novel and it is Trollope’s success in portraying her in all her shabby weakness and her not-inconsiderable strangths that have ensured the continuing popularity of The Eustace Diamonds.”
— P. D. James" One of Trollope's most lovable and approachable. An antiheroine to rival them all, Lizzie Greystock Eustace. Fun. "
— Suzanne, 2/19/2014" The characters in this book are not nearly as much pleasure to read about as those in Phineas Finn. And it isn't because Trollope is misogynist. He gives the main character her due as a complicated, worthy anti-hero. But this book really frustrated me because it felt like something that was written in order to be paid by the word. There were many many redundancies and repetitions. The plot moved forward by tiny fractions of the inch. Finally at the end, when the pacing picked up, it was quite marvelous. But getting there was a plod. "
— Patricia, 2/15/2014" Most of Trollope's books are rather formulaic. But this is different from his others. the villain is a woman and he develops complex characters very well. "
— Nancy, 2/9/2014" Eva Mahgrefteh recommended this book to me and I am enjoying it so far! "
— JoJami, 2/2/2014" Love this whole series! Lizzie is such a little Scarlett O'Hara. "
— Julie, 1/28/2014" All Trollope is good Trollope for a romp through 19th century upper-class England with a good dose of sharp humor. Not quite as socially biting as Dickens, but as insightful satire goes, really fun! "
— Lauren, 1/27/2014" I rather liked this, and was particularly interested in Trollope's women, and that his lead characters were so venal, duplicitous and generally dastardly. :-) "
— Hazel, 1/17/2014" So far Lizzie Eustace is weirdly like my mother. I'm reading this with my most excellent pal Steven, who warned me--in his typically gentleman-like fashion--that her character might make me "uncomfortable." Actually, I'm finding it to be rather validating. "
— Retha, 1/16/2014" This is the best yet of the Palliser series and makes slogging through the first two books worth it. "
— Jenitive, 1/11/2014" Moved too slowly. Wasn't motivated to finish. "
— Laura, 12/31/2013" Kind of a slog. I much preferred Framley Parsonage and feel burned out on Trollope now. "
— Jorrie, 12/29/2013" The weakest of the first four Palliser novels, still a joy... "
— Charles, 12/24/2013" I think we tend to assume a heroine to be a good person with laudable merits, but in this volume of the Palliser Novels, Trollope gives us Lizzie Eustace, a lying, scheming, avaricious if beautiful poor woman, made good by marrying a dying man. Her fortune is wanted by all, but those who get to know her usually decide she is not worth the trouble, though the fortune is indeed great. To watch her make her destructive way through London & Scottish society is a real treat!! How Trollope keeps us going!! "
— Lynne-marie, 12/17/2013" So far Lizzie Eustace is weirdly like my mother. I'm reading this with my most excellent pal Steven, who warned me--in his typically gentleman-like fashion--that her character might make me "uncomfortable." Actually, I'm finding it to be rather validating. "
— Retha, 12/1/2013" first trollope? only took me the twenty-something odd years...mon dieu "
— Maia, 11/17/2013" The weakest of the first four Palliser novels, still a joy... "
— Charles, 11/12/2013" One of my favourite Trollope novels tells the story of manipulative minx Lizzie Eustace and her machinations to hold on to dubiously claimed diamonds and to secure herself a husband. Excellent stuff, though it seems to peter out rather than climax. "
— Dominick, 11/9/2013" in a word, wonderful, especially for the nasty characters. "
— Susanne, 11/1/2013" Moved too slowly. Wasn't motivated to finish. "
— Laura, 10/31/2013" This book is the 3rd book in the Palliser series. "
— Maureen, 10/22/2013" A wonderful frolic through Trollope land. Lizzie is a rival to Becky Sharp. "
— Laurele, 10/11/2013" A cat, indeed! What a frustrating tale. This book reminds you of the dangers of marrying the wrong person. I kept losing interest, but I also had to finish the book just to check out the final results. "
— Rachel, 10/5/2013" Lizzie Eustace reminds me of some of my relatives...not my favorite relatives. Trollope's characterizations feel contemporary. I like the fact that he knows human nature and handles characters so well. "
— Tawn, 5/26/2013" Long and lovely read. "
— Mary, 5/10/2013" All Trollope is good Trollope for a romp through 19th century upper-class England with a good dose of sharp humor. Not quite as socially biting as Dickens, but as insightful satire goes, really fun! "
— Lauren, 5/8/2013" This book had entirely too many characters, it was hard to follow. "
— Sarah, 4/23/2013" I thought it got a bit tedious after a while. I mean how long can you keep talking about the same things? Still pretty fun to read. "
— Susanne, 3/20/2013" If you like masterpiece theatre and/or long victorian novels, you'll probably like this book. It's part of Anthony Trollope's series of Palliser novels. "
— Honor, 2/5/2013" Trollope's sermonizing sent me up a tree. My complete review is at here. "
— ColleenPA, 10/10/2012" As usual, Trollope's characters come alive. However, through several sections of the book, the story line becomes dry, making the reading rather heavy-going. This is offset by the parts in which it is next to impossible to put down the book though. Highly recommended to patient readers. "
— Mary-Clare, 8/19/2012" A bit too long... the first volume spent A LOT of time establishing and reestablishing that Lady Eustace is a) a stinking liar and b) extremely pretty. However, it was enjoyable overall and I'm glad I read it! It's been a while since I've read a classic. "
— Meghan, 7/9/2012" As usual, Trollope's characters come alive. However, through several sections of the book, the story line becomes dry, making the reading rather heavy-going. This is offset by the parts in which it is next to impossible to put down the book though. Highly recommended to patient readers. "
— Mary-Clare, 3/8/2012" If you like masterpiece theatre and/or long victorian novels, you'll probably like this book. It's part of Anthony Trollope's series of Palliser novels. "
— Honor, 9/24/2011" A fabulous character story ~ "
— Recreational, 7/16/2011" Didn't enjoy as much as some other Trollope novels -- the main character is not very admirable; in fact, few characters in this book are real "heroes." "
— Chad, 2/21/2011" What happens when you marry an older man for his money, he dies, and then his family wants the diamonds back? What lengths will you go to and what lies will you tell? Read to find out! "
— Sara, 2/20/2011" As usual, Trollope's characters come alive. However, through several sections of the book, the story line becomes dry, making the reading rather heavy-going. This is offset by the parts in which it is next to impossible to put down the book though. Highly recommended to patient readers. "
— Mary-Clare, 2/5/2011" This one was a big surprise. It took me well over a hundred pages to really enjoy it, but then... there were still several hundred left once I did! Trollope is hilarious. It's worth the initial slogging. Can't wait to read more. "
— Alison, 1/9/2011" I absolutely love Trollope. I've read this book twice and am listening to the audiobook for the first time. Timothy West is the perfect narrator for Trollope!<br/><br/> "
— Dona, 9/27/2010" Love this whole series! Lizzie is such a little Scarlett O'Hara. "
— Julie, 9/15/2010" Kind of a slog. I much preferred <em>Framley Parsonage</em> and feel burned out on Trollope now. "
— Jorrie, 8/27/2010" A bit too long... the first volume spent A LOT of time establishing and reestablishing that Lady Eustace is a) a stinking liar and b) extremely pretty. However, it was enjoyable overall and I'm glad I read it! It's been a while since I've read a classic. "
— Meghan, 7/1/2010Anthony Trollope (1815–1882) grew up in London. He inherited his mother’s ambition to write and was famously disciplined in the development of his craft. His first novel was published in 1847 while he was working in Ireland as a surveyor for the General Post Office. He wrote a series of books set in the English countryside as well as those set in the political life, works that show great psychological penetration. One of his greatest strengths was his ability to re-create in his fiction his own vision of the social structures of Victorian England. The author of forty-seven novels, he was one of the most prolific and respected English novelists of the Victorian era.
Simon Vance (a.k.a. Robert Whitfield) is an award-winning actor and narrator. He has earned more than fifty Earphones Awards and won the prestigious Audie Award for best narration thirteen times. He was named Booklist’s very first Voice of Choice in 2008 and has been named an AudioFile Golden Voice as well as an AudioFile Best Voice of 2009. He has narrated more than eight hundred audiobooks over almost thirty years, beginning when he was a radio newsreader for the BBC in London. He is also an actor who has appeared on both stage and television.