The Eustace Diamonds


Read by LibriVox Volunteers

(4.5 stars; 91 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)

Chapters

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

Reviews

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.