CHAPTER XIII

PEN AND PLATFORM POLITICS

Failures of literary men in the political world at the beginning of the nineteenth century--Trollope increases the number by going under at Beverley--“Not in, but in at the death”--_Ralph the Heir_--Its plots and politics--Trollope as editor of _The St. Paul’s Magazine_--_Phineas Finn_--Some remarks on Trollope’s _Palmerston_--In the heart of political society--The hero’s flirtations and fights in London--His final return to the old home and friends--_Phineas Redux_--Again in London--Charged with murder--Madame Goesler’s double triumph--Some probable caricatures--Trollope renews acquaintance with Planty Pal and his wife in _The Prime Minister_--The close of the political series comes with _The Duke’s Children_ 245