Can You Forgive Her?

Anyone wanting to read this Penguin English Classics book, Can You Forgive Her, in Kindle format, should be aware that there are, unfortunately, a significant number of errors that have arisen during the digital transfer of text from the printed to the digital format. Although they do not prevent one from reading the text, they are an irritant and a distraction. The most significant of these errors occurs in roughly eight chapters from chapter 48 to around chapter 56 and is an almost entire absence of apostrophes except for the opening apostrophe in speech. There are, in addition, a number of repetitions of words within sentences, wrong words, lack of full stops and so on, some of which I have highlighted in the photos. I had thought to avoid such errors by purchasing a Penguin edition of the book, which I wrongly assumed might have been - edited! A Google search has revealed that this is a common problem with Kindle books, which is very disappointing to learn. I'm writing this review (my first ever) just to highlight the issue to any prospective reader who may be unaware of the problem, and in the probably vain hope that someone at Amazon or at Penguin or both might actually care and do something about it.

A substantial and very intricate work which explores many aspects of human relationships - mainly of the romantic sort - and also touches on aspects of politics.Of course this is a 19th-century novel so much has changed but this is ever more fascinating as a result. And of course all written in Trollope's unique style.Said style is of course very wordy and dare I say it long winded which draws the novel out, and there is also a lot of padding in the plot. Part of the reason for this is that Trollope originally published this book as individual chapters in a newspaper, so a drawn out plot would have had a financial benefit to him.So yes, I am a little cynical but it doesn't detract from the ingenuity of this work. Stick with it and you will be rewarded.

This is the first book of the so-called 'Palliser-' or 'political' novels by Anthony Trollope, and if the next 5 volumes are as good as this one that would be nothing short of amazing. If you've read the Barsetshire-chronicles, you'll immediately recognize the inimitable Trollope-style, with its painstakingly detailed analyses of the characters' feelings and emotions. And therefore, remote in time as the settings of these novels may be, ever so much is recognizable and relevant even in the 21st century. I found myself constantly thinking 'I would have felt so too', sympathizing with some characters and disliking others because all of them are painted so life-like you'll feel you've met them in the flesh.In this particular novel the heroine, Alice Vavasor, is torn between two lovers: her cousin George (ambitious and attractive but with a temper) and the stoic gentleman John Grey. She in turn accepts and then rejects both and is unable to forgive herself for being a 'jilt' (hence the title).There's nothing much sensational about the plot (is there ever with Trollope?) and the pace is slow, much slower probably than what we've become used to, but nevertheless this is a book thoroughly to be enjoyed.

The first of Anthony Trollope's political Palliser series. Wonderful novel which draws the reader in from the start. Couldn't put it down. This is why I keep returning to Trollope novels, I am a great fan. Can't wait to get the next one in the series.

I bought this copy to replace one which had fallen to bits after years of re-reading.When I read it forty years ago domestic violence - by fists or by mind control - was hardly spoken of. But this mid-Victorian novel features a fiance who threatens the former - there is another Trollope novel where the threat becomes reality and I will leave you to find it - and a loving and well-intentioned husband who is nevertheless a control freak. Decades ahead of its time.