
Set against the bustling backdrop of a small English borough’s election, the story follows the eager young radical Beauchamp as he throws himself into the noisy whirl of canvassing, speeches, and the clamor of bells. He finds an unlikely mentor in the seasoned, cautious Cougham, whose Tory‑leaning instincts clash with Beauchamp’s idealistic fervor. Their uneasy partnership reveals the absurdities and contradictions of a Liberal movement struggling to define itself.
Enter the charismatic Lord Palmet, heir to an earldom and a magnet for society’s gossip, who bumps into Beauchamp on a bright Tuesday morning. Their conversation, laced with flirtatious banter and rumors about fashionable women, opens a window onto the intertwining worlds of politics, sport and high society in the nearby town of Itchincope. As alliances shift and ambitions rise, listeners are drawn into a witty portrait of Victorian ambition, where personal charm and public duty constantly collide.
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (168K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2003-09-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1828–1909
A major Victorian novelist and poet, he is best remembered for sharp, psychologically rich fiction and for turning comedy into a serious way of looking at human behavior. His work rewards listeners who enjoy wit, moral complexity, and characters who rarely fit simple categories.
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