tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post6616670031954928167..comments2024-02-29T02:54:19.767-05:00Comments on Babbling Books: The Prime Minister by Anthony TrollopeBrian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-67481890992967920382017-12-17T11:44:51.653-05:002017-12-17T11:44:51.653-05:00Thanks Hila. It is interesting how folks can be se...Thanks Hila. It is interesting how folks can be selective when it comes to bias. Some of my relatives who I have not seen in decades were very sympathetic to Jewish people and spoke out against anti - Semitism but were racist against other groups. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-8995603013836069782017-12-17T11:11:03.494-05:002017-12-17T11:11:03.494-05:00I really enjoy your reviews of Trollope's book...I really enjoy your reviews of Trollope's books. As for the anti-semitism, I wonder why authors who otherwise can consider complex issues with care and perceive other people's humanity (like in this case, Trollope's approach to female characters) somehow have a strong mental block of sorts when it comes to certain groups. HKatzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17653570160517335758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-87543949236219364902017-12-13T21:39:42.765-05:002017-12-13T21:39:42.765-05:00Thanks Deepika.Thanks Deepika.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-70789133441936865022017-12-13T21:37:39.513-05:002017-12-13T21:37:39.513-05:00Thank you for this extensive, enlightening review,...Thank you for this extensive, enlightening review, Brian. I learn a lot of things from your reviews, which I wouldn't have come across otherwise. Many thanks!Deepika Rameshhttps://newfracturedlight.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-36133574405145745942017-12-13T15:50:22.652-05:002017-12-13T15:50:22.652-05:00One thing that makes the anti - semitism harder to...One thing that makes the anti - semitism harder to push off as a sign of the times is the fact that several of Trollope's contemporaries condemned it. Both Charles Dickens and Friedrich Nietzsche come to mind. <br /><br />The politics in this book are remarkably similar to the way modern democracies operate. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-47668208497775733272017-12-13T10:56:54.386-05:002017-12-13T10:56:54.386-05:00This sounds great, Brian - insightful and timely t...This sounds great, Brian - insightful and timely too. The anti-Semitic element was quite pervasive at the time, not that that is an excuse, but I wonder what it says about an element we've long resisted and found hard to integrate in ourselves.Loryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08519976394732029323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-21663190919639873552017-12-12T19:11:53.023-05:002017-12-12T19:11:53.023-05:00Hey Maria- That is really interesting about the Po...Hey Maria- That is really interesting about the Portuguese last names and how Trollope got it wrong. <br /><br />Trump's vileness is beyond words. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-73641232518568548352017-12-11T01:02:41.916-05:002017-12-11T01:02:41.916-05:00Interesting that this character is of Portuguese o...Interesting that this character is of Portuguese origin. I was wondering why his last name did not have an accent over the letter "o". But then, there are no written accents in English, so I can see why Trollope didn't place one over the "o". However, Trollope has made a mistake in the spelling of this last name. That's because the Portuguese version is supposed to be "Lopes", with an "s" at the end, and not "Lopez", with a "z". That's why I thought there should have been an accent over the "o". <br /><br />This type of thing is very common with last names. The Spanish versions end with a "z", while the Portuguese versions end with an "s". My own maiden name, for example, was "Pérez", indicating Spanish origin. My dad was, in fact, from Spain. The Portuguese version is "Peres". And there's no accent over the first "e". Of course, in English, my maiden name lost the accent anyway. <br /><br />As you have implied, prejudice against someone of Portuguese descent is just as reprehensible as prejudice against Hispanics, or any other group. (BTW, I have discovered while Googling that Brazilians and Portuguese don't like being called "Hispanics".) And you have stated that Trollope was biased against anyone who was not British. The fact that this Lopes character is suspected of being Jewish makes things even worse!<br /><br />What you've stated about some groups, themselves the victims of prejudice, discriminating other equally discriminated groups, is very true, as well as appalling, not to mention completely illogical! I have argued with Cubans who think that African-Americans are inferior! And even some Jews discriminate against African-Americans. It's really very sad..... And yes, this DISGRACEFUL president if fanning this type of thing, and it IS indeed a terrible setback. After all the suffering and sacrifices of civil rights activists, to have this type of thing happen, is EXTREMELY disappointing! But we will, of course, continue to resist this evil man named Donald J. Trump. We will NOT give up!!<br /><br />Hope you have a great week, too!! <3 :)<br />Maria Beharhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13635809880830316283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-87019887590247579782017-12-10T18:48:56.385-05:002017-12-10T18:48:56.385-05:00Thanks Maria.
I was thinking of devoting a separ...Thanks Maria. <br /><br />I was thinking of devoting a separate post to Trollope’s views of liberalism and conservatism. Trollope was moderately liberal but he saw value in both liberalism and conservatism. <br /><br />Lopez is of Portuguese origin. I found it hard to tell if Trollope was expressing prejudice against the Portuguese. It may be there but if it is, it is subtle. One thing is that Trollope shows bias toward anyone who is not British. One aspect of the anti – Semitism here is that Lopez is suspected of being Jewish.<br /><br />Without a doubt there is enormous bias aimed at Hispanic folks in America. Our current administration is fanning it. Sadly different groups, some the recipients of discrimination themselves also biased. I think that we had been moving in the right direction, but Trumpism is a terrible setback. <br /><br />Have a great week!<br />Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-85114847964481127852017-12-10T15:15:05.060-05:002017-12-10T15:15:05.060-05:00OUTSTANDING commentary as usual, Brian!! :)
I rea...OUTSTANDING commentary as usual, Brian!! :)<br /><br />I really MUST make reading Trollope a New Year's resolution! Lol. It sure sounds like this is a series of really fascinating novels! <br /><br />This particular installment in the series sounds very interesting, although, as you say, the author's dwelling on "minor political matters" can indeed get tedious. I would like to read about the contrast between conservatism and liberalism, though.<br /><br />On the other hand.....it's very unfortunate, as well as unappealing, that this novel is marred by anti-Semitism....And how very ironic, too, as Trollope is sympathetic to women's rights, as you have stated in this review. Why could he not have been just as sympathetic toward Jews? I find this to be illogical and puzzling.<br /><br />It also bothers me that he has made Ferdinand López a very unsavory character. Is this character Jewish? If not, then Trollope is also showing prejudice against Hispanics. If this character IS Jewish, then it's DOUBLE prejudice. Why should a Hispanic be depicted as being narcissistic, unscrupulous, and cruel? This REALLY ticks me off! This is probably related to the long-standing animosity I've heard exists between the British and the Spanish. If this is true, then I think this animosity probably goes all the way back to the defeat by the British of the Spanish Armada, in 1588. The Armada sailed from La Coruña, Spain, to England with the intent to invade England and overthrow Queen Elizabeth I. But, as stated in the Wikipedia article about the Armada, England had been interfering in the Spanish Netherlands. The plot thickens, right? Lol.<br /><br />Here's the link to the Wikipedia article on the Spanish Armada. (Note to self: read history books!)<br /><br />https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Armada<br /><br />So I think there has not been any love lost between the English and the Spanish for centuries. But it's STILL prejudice to have an evil Hispanic character. Why couldn't this evil character have been British? Why was this particular character included in a book dealing with British characters and British politics?<br /><br />Here's another interesting Wikipedia link. This one deals with Hispanophobia, which is the irrational fear and aversion toward Hispanics.<br /><br />https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hispanophobia <br /><br /><br />Of course, we're currently seeing this fear and aversion toward Hispanics playing out in the recent debates over immigration. Behind the "concern" that illegal immigrants are somehow "destroying" the country, lies the ugly specter of Hispanophobia. Heck, we have evidence of that right here in Miami. With the increase in Hispanic immigration through the 60s, 70s, and 80s, most white Americans moved out of the city. The African-Americans don't like Hispanics much, either. They see us as coming to the city to "take over", thus taking jobs that rightfully should have been theirs. The blame for this should really go to the racist employers in Miami. They prefer to hire light-skinned immigrants to dark-skinned Americans.<br /><br />Anyway.... I do need to start the Palliser series. Trollope has many other great qualities as a writer. I might end up not reading "The Prime Minister", after all, though.<br /><br />Thanks for your insightful review!! Hope you're having a great Sunday!! <3 :)<br />Maria Beharhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13635809880830316283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-77937436542386700432017-12-09T18:40:38.977-05:002017-12-09T18:40:38.977-05:00Thanks Naida. Trollope was so good at complex rela...Thanks Naida. Trollope was so good at complex relationships. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-5192571612418573692017-12-09T18:38:53.696-05:002017-12-09T18:38:53.696-05:00Hi Sharon - Indeed it is worth asking oneself if w...Hi Sharon - Indeed it is worth asking oneself if we are holding unfair biases.<br /><br />I looked back and it turns out that I started The Chronicles of Barchester about four years ago. That and the palliser series are related. I am now on the twelfth book of the combined series. <br /><br />Have a great weekend!Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-7533127422887636862017-12-09T13:12:41.713-05:002017-12-09T13:12:41.713-05:00I confess I skimmed most of your post because I ha...I confess I skimmed most of your post because I haven't read the book yet. I did read your last couple of paragraphs, however.<br /><br />It is unfortunate that people can thoughtlessly denigrate another group of people as Trollope apparently does (I noticed it in the Eustace Diamonds). However, it makes me look at myself and our world and see who we might be holding in contempt without realizing that we're going with a cultural flow without realizing it.<br /><br />I am jealous that you have read most of these books. They're still on my bookshelves patiently waiting.<br /><br />Have a great weekend, Brian.Sharon Wilfonghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17466621290140789056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-2570177523979722602017-12-09T10:43:03.527-05:002017-12-09T10:43:03.527-05:00Great post as always, I know you enjoy Trollope...Great post as always, I know you enjoy Trollope's work. I like the quote about Lady Glencora towards her husband. I like reading complicated relationships in books, it feels more true to life that way.<br />Enjoy your weekend!The Bookwormhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10217390642323530030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-24172199408393486702017-12-08T17:13:01.816-05:002017-12-08T17:13:01.816-05:00Thanks so much Baili - Lady Glencora is one of Tro...Thanks so much Baili - Lady Glencora is one of Trollope's most interesting and read characters. <br /> <br /><br />Trollope had a flair for making things interesting. That includes politics. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-35599528802071108782017-12-08T01:14:54.748-05:002017-12-08T01:14:54.748-05:00Never found any book with politics involve such in...Never found any book with politics involve such interesting Brian!<br /><br />i don't know as if the book itself is as great or your commentary made it so!<br /><br />I eagerly wanted to explore the main character who has inspirational personality and his wife who "almost love him" i can understand her little bit from your words that she is lady who "thinks Lot" and invest her mental strength in playing games love is not her field .<br />Love is field of people who "fell more than they think"<br /><br />i found your review really APPEALING!bailihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06498012175058870980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-1835460106276447992017-12-07T18:52:42.393-05:002017-12-07T18:52:42.393-05:00HI Carol - I think the Palliser novels are more cy...HI Carol - I think the Palliser novels are more cynical then The Barsetshire books. They came later and they describe a more cosmopolitan world. In some ways they it is all one big series as there are crossover characters. <br /><br />I love exploring the Trollope Society website. It is particularly use when characters from one book appear several books later. I can look up the character for a refresh. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-20574334253080342542017-12-07T18:47:52.124-05:002017-12-07T18:47:52.124-05:00Hi Suko - I think that you would like Trollope. I ...Hi Suko - I think that you would like Trollope. I think that either The Warden or Can You Forgive Her? are good places to start because they are the beginning of series. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-50634324271322948392017-12-07T18:35:45.772-05:002017-12-07T18:35:45.772-05:00Thanks for posting your thoughts about this book. ...Thanks for posting your thoughts about this book. This book and series sound intriguing in many ways. I'm determined to read something by Anthony Trollope at some point. Excellent commentary, Brian Joseph! Sukohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11893742747135555499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-20405883220796799492017-12-07T16:17:22.334-05:002017-12-07T16:17:22.334-05:00I've listened to the Barchester Chronicles on ...I've listened to the Barchester Chronicles on audio - very enjoyable but I'll have to work up to the Palliser novels, I think. Some of Trollope's short stories are very good (listening to the Frau Frohmann series)& I'm sticking to them for the time being. Have you seen this website? https://trollopesociety.org/Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06820925595506920754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-28088749963167327242017-12-07T12:13:58.318-05:002017-12-07T12:13:58.318-05:00Thanks for stopping by Simon - These are books tha...Thanks for stopping by Simon - These are books that are worth collecting. I started reading The Chronicles of Barsetshire about four years ago. I read through that series and now I am on the last Palliser book. Many of these are also big books so it is slow going. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-53189844997087743912017-12-07T09:51:54.316-05:002017-12-07T09:51:54.316-05:00I recently came upon a set of lovely pristine OWC ...I recently came upon a set of lovely pristine OWC paperbacks of the Pallisers and Barsetshires, almost complete, so I'll come back to this post at that point some time in the future - don't know when I'll find the time! - when I've read them.Simonhttp://tredynasdays.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-75841230149467925262017-12-07T07:40:02.312-05:002017-12-07T07:40:02.312-05:00Thanks Kathy - I actually am not planning to read ...Thanks Kathy - I actually am not planning to read all of Trollope's books. I believe that he wrote 54 novels. This is the twelfth that I have read. After finishing this series I will probably read about three or four more. <br /><br />I have not read Gissing. I would like to give him a try. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-39020890764092182672017-12-07T01:13:44.892-05:002017-12-07T01:13:44.892-05:00Excellent review Brian. You describe this book, th...Excellent review Brian. You describe this book, the characters, tneir motivations so well. I had planned to start reading the Warden but I too am bothered by the anti-semitism. Trollope is a great writer but I wish he could have taken some of his insight and used it to look a hard look at himself. You have inspired me to find an author and read their entire output. I'm thinking of George Gissing. I read his book The Odd Woman years ago and loved it based on a review of his work by the talented Vivian Gornick I've become curious about Gissing.Kathy's Cornerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03967595794483824444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-89169899152449579392017-12-06T23:21:09.236-05:002017-12-06T23:21:09.236-05:00Hi Susan - The relationship between Lady Glencora ...Hi Susan - The relationship between Lady Glencora and The Duke of Omnium has been a constant source of interest throughout the series. Typically for Trollope, it is complex and often unpredictable.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.com