The Duke's Children

I’ll admit: I approached *The Duke’s Children* expecting starchy Victorian moralizing, but Trollope surprised me at every turn. This isn’t a novel about whether the Duke’s children will *learn their lesson*—it’s about whether their father can survive their refusal to. The Duke’s grief is palpable, not because Trollope wallows in sentiment, but because he shows how it warps the man’s judgment. When the Duke’s daughter, Lady Mary, rejects a wealthy suitor for a penniless commoner, the scene isn’t just about class—it’s about a father realizing his children’s lives are no longer his to control. Trollope’s dialogue crackles, especially in the parliamentary asides, where West’s narration shines. His delivery of the Duke’s internal monologues—half self-pity, half steely resolve—is worth the price of admission alone. That said, this isn’t a flawless listen. The subplot involving the Duke’s son, Lord Silverbridge, and his racing debts drags in the middle, and Trollope’s habit of resolving conflicts through abrupt letters (a Victorian trope) can feel jarring in audio. West’s narration occasionally leans *too* heavily into the comedy of the secondary characters, making some MPs sound like caricatures when the text suggests they’re meant to be dangerous. Still, the production quality is impeccable—no distracting edits or volume shifts—and the final act, where the Duke confronts his own irrelevance, is devastating. If you love audiobooks that balance wit with emotional weight, this is a standout. Just be prepared to roll your eyes at a few of Silverbridge’s financial misadventures before the payoff.