The Eustace Diamonds


Lu par LibriVox Volunteers

(4.5 stars; 95 reviews)

Lizzie Greystock, a fortune-hunter who ensnares the sickly, dissipated Sir Florian Eustace, is soon left a very wealthy widow and mother. While clever and beautiful, Lizzie has several character flaws; the greatest of these is an almost pathological delight in lying, even when it cannot benefit her. Before he dies, the disillusioned Sir Florian discovers all this, but does not think to change the generous terms of his will.

The diamonds of the book's title are a necklace, a Eustace family heirloom that Sir Florian gave to Lizzie to wear. Lizzie attempts to hold onto them, much to the irritation of the longtime family lawyer, Mr Camperdown. The Eustaces find themselves in an awkward position. On the one hand, the diamonds are a valuable heirloom to which Lizzie may not have a legal claim, but on the other, they do not want to antagonize the mother of the heir to the family estate (Lizzie having only a life interest).

Meanwhile, after a respectable period of mourning, Lizzie searches for another husband, and "the plot thickens". (Summary from Wikipedia)

This is the third of Trollope’s six “Palliser” novels. LibriVox recordings of other novels in the series are available:
1-Can You Forgive Her?
2-Phineas Finn, the Irish Member
3-The Eustace Diamonds
4-Phineas Redux
5-The Prime Minister
6-The Duke’s Children (27 hr 30 min)

Chapitres

Lizzie Greystock 24:59 Lu par Laura Koskinen
Lady Eustace 21:56 Lu par Philippa
Lucy Morris 21:39 Lu par Notelrac
Frank Greystock 18:18 Lu par cvd
The Eustace Necklace 30:04 Lu par Philippa
Lady Linlithgow's Mission 18:56 Lu par Philippa
Mr. Burke's Speeches 21:47 Lu par Philippa
The Conquering Hero Comes 16:16 Lu par par2323
Showing What the Miss Fawns Said, and What Mrs. Hittaway Thought 27:06 Lu par Philippa
Lizzie and Her Lover 32:13 Lu par Hannah Dowell
Lord Fawn at His Office 16:18 Lu par Laura Koskinen
"I Only Thought of It" 15:10 Lu par Lee Ann Howlett
Showing What Frank Greystock Did 21:50 Lu par DianaJMB
"Doan't Thou Marry for Munny" 21:31 Lu par Philippa
"I'll Give You a Hundred Guinea Brooch" 24:48 Lu par Philippa
Certainly an Heirloom 18:46 Lu par Catherine Millward
The Diamonds Are Seen in Public 18:02 Lu par TriciaG
"And I Have Nothing to Give" 27:03 Lu par Catherine Millward
"As My Brother" 26:19 Lu par Catherine Millward
The Diamonds Become Troublesome 15:23 Lu par Laura Koskinen
"Ianthe's Soul" 20:30 Lu par Christine Blachford
Lady Eustace Procures a Pony for the Use of Her Cousin 13:37 Lu par Lee Ann Howlett
Frank Greystock's First Visit to Portray 20:05 Lu par skellie
Showing What Frank Greystock Thought About Marriage 15:46 Lu par TriciaG
Mr. Dove's Opinion 16:16 Lu par Catherine Millward
Mr. Gowran Is Very Funny 27:45 Lu par Catherine Millward
Lucy Morris Misbehaves 15:21 Lu par Catherine Millward
Mr. Dove in His Chambers 28:19 Lu par Catherine Millward
"I Had Better Go Away" 20:04 Lu par Catherine Millward
Mr. Greystock's Troubles 21:46 Lu par Catherine Millward
Frank Greystock's Second Visit to Portray 27:45 Lu par Catherine Millward
Mr. and Mrs. Hittaway in Scotland 13:57 Lu par Catherine Millward
"It Won't Be True" 21:35 Lu par Catherine Millward
Lady Linlithgow at Home 20:03 Lu par Sage Tyrtle
Too Bad for Sympathy 23:54 Lu par Sage Tyrtle
Lizzie's Guests 20:10 Lu par Catherine Millward
Lizzie's First Day 28:25 Lu par Catherine Millward
Nappie's Grey Horse 30:27 Lu par Simon Evers
Sir Griffin Takes an Unfair Advantage 9:55 Lu par Simon Evers
"You Are Not Angry?" 11:05 Lu par Laura Koskinen
"Likewise the Bears in Couples Agree" 21:55 Lu par Andrew Coleman
Sunday Morning 13:16 Lu par Lee Ann Howlett
Life at Portray 22:31 Lu par Lee Ann Howlett
A Midnight Adventure 21:14 Lu par Bethany Simpson
The Journey to London 17:12 Lu par Bethany Simpson
Lucy Morris in Brook Street 23:53 Lu par Bethany Simpson
Matching Priory 24:11 Lu par Laura Koskinen
Lizzie's Condition 13:13 Lu par Lee Ann Howlett
Bunfit and Gager 22:56 Lu par Mil Nicholson
In Hertford Street 20:55 Lu par Andrew Coleman
Confidence 13:13 Lu par Andrew Coleman
Mrs. Carbuncle Goes to the Theatre 27:54 Lu par Andrew Coleman
Lizzie's Sick-Room 28:02 Lu par Andrew Coleman
"I Suppose I May Say a Word" 23:59 Lu par Laura Koskinen
Quints or Semitenths 11:41 Lu par Laura Koskinen
Job's Comforters 21:21 Lu par TriciaG
Humpty Dumpty 26:25 Lu par Mil Nicholson
"The Fiddle with One String" 11:03 Lu par Mil Nicholson
Mr. Gowran Up in London 20:13 Lu par Philippa
"Let It Be As Though It Had Never Been" 24:51 Lu par Philippa
Lizzie's Great Friend 32:14 Lu par TriciaG
"You Know Where My Heart Is" 16:26 Lu par Lee Ann Howlett
The Corsair Is Afraid 17:37 Lu par Lee Ann Howlett
Lizzie's Last Scheme 13:33 Lu par Lee Ann Howlett
Tribute 19:15 Lu par Lee Ann Howlett
The Aspirations of Mr. Emilius 19:20 Lu par TriciaG
The Eye of the Public 18:47 Lu par Hoosemon
The Major 19:36 Lu par TriciaG
"I Cannot Do It" 25:46 Lu par TriciaG
Alas! 15:02 Lu par Maire Rhode
Lizzie Is Threatened with the Treadmill 27:32 Lu par Maire Rhode
Lizzie Triumphs 20:01 Lu par Maire Rhode
Lizzie's Last Lover 24:16 Lu par LC
Lizzie at the Police-Court 13:13 Lu par Bethany Simpson
Lord George Gives His Reasons 12:40 Lu par Bethany Simpson
Lizzie Returns to Scotland 25:30 Lu par TriciaG
The Story of Lucy Morris Is Concluded 18:44 Lu par cvd
The Trial 21:42 Lu par Andrew Coleman
Once More at Portray 20:09 Lu par Lee Ann Howlett
What Was Said About It All at Matching 14:17 Lu par Laura Koskinen

Critiques

interesting, witty and eventful


(4 stars)

I like the Palliser series better than the Barchester Chronicles, better crafted, more interesting characters and livelier. A very funny and cynical portrait of 1860's high society. Excellent readers, better than version 2 of the same book . A pity about the blatant anti-Semitism, but that's what the world is like, mustn't let it chaff my hooked nose!

Another good Trollope


(4 stars)

This book is a little different from the usual Trollope love stories, but it is still good. Chapter 34 is a gem. Listen to it even if you don't have time for the whole book. It's correct name is "Lady Linlithgow at Home." It is mis-titled in the Librivox listing.

overall good


(4 stars)

Even volunteer should learn how to pronounce all names and words before embarking. Lady LinLITHgow. GROVE-ner (not Grows-vee-nor!) Legge ("leg") Wilson, not "leggy" or "ledgy." The "oe" in Madame Max Goesler's name is the umlaut O - it is never "Goosler" or "Gosler" or "Gowsler." And many others.


(4 stars)

I was just going to comment after listening to chapter 34 and now I see someone else marked that chapter out for special mention. Sage Tyrtle does a marvelous job of acting out by voice the characters in the chapter. Delightful! Brilliance rising to combine with Trollope’s brilliance.

compelling Story


(5 stars)

An epic tale of lies, love and loss. The majority of the readers are very good some using excellent voices for the various characters. A few chapters have quite low volume making for difficult listening.


(3 stars)

Some readers are so much better than others. The sound quality for some readers was poor. Please review the readers' work before including in the presentation.

not my favourite by anthony Trollope


(3.5 stars)

The story is somewhat slow at times. Some of the readers are exellent.

Thanks - title error fixed


(0 stars)

Thank you for spotting that, Champagnolle. The error has now been fixed.