Can You Forgive Her?

"Can You Forgive Her?" is a novel by Anthony Trollope, first published in serial form in 1864 and 1865. It is the first of six novels in the "Palliser" series.

The main plot revolves around the marriage choices of Alice Vavasor. The satirical periodical "Punch" mocked the work, referring to it as "Can You Stand Her?" due to its irritation with Alice's inepititude in deciding between her two suitors. (Moreover, in his book "On Writing", Stephen King makes light of the book's length, joking that a more appropriate title might be "Can You Possibly Finish It?")

Early on, Alice asks the question "What should a woman do with her life?" This theme repeats itself in the dilemmas faced by other female characters in the novel.

Over the course of the novel, Alice befriends Lady Glencora and Plantagenet Palliser, characters who recur in the remainder of the series.

Plot summary

Alice Vavasor is engaged to the respectable, if unambitious John Grey. She had previously been engaged to her unworthy, wild cousin George, but she broke it off. All her relations are very eager for the match with John. He foolishly raises no objections to Alice's tour of Switzerland with George and his loyal sister Kate.

Alice convinces herself that John is too good for her. She proceeds to jilt him and renews her engagement to George, assisted by some conniving by Kate. George then starts asking for money from Alice to support his parliamentary ambitions. In a twist, John pays the money instead to prevent Alice's financial ruin, unknownst to both George and Alice. When he finds out, George tries to kill his rival, but fails. Then he loses his seat. Facing debts he cannot repay, George flees the country. Alice eventually marries John.

A subplot deals with the marriage of the extremely rich Plantagenet Palliser to the even wealthier heiress, Lady Glencora M'Cluskie. They are not very well suited. He is a stiff-necked, hardworking politician, while she has a lively, fun-loving personality and a well-developed sense of humour. She had been passionately in love with Burgo Fitzgerald, a worthless, penniless man who would have squandered her money. He plotted to elope with Glencora and she nearly agreed, even though she knew he would have ruined her eventually.

Plantagenet takes her to Switzerland for their honeymoon, where the two couples become acquainted. Plantagenet, who has few if any real friends, becomes close to John Grey. He persuades his new friend to run for Parliament, much to Alice's delight.

Meanwhile, Glencora finds that she is pregnant. After their return to England, she gives birth to a son, the hoped-for heir to the Palliser dynasty.

External links

* [http://www.anthonytrollope.com/ Anthony Trollope] - Comprehensive summaries of all of Trollope's plots and characters as well as information on all things Trollopian.