MARRYING THE MISTRESS

Trollope never takes the expected path as she paints a perceptive, fresh portrait of the intricacies of relationships and emotions. Guy Stockdale, a respected judge, announces that he is leaving his wife of decades to marry Merrion, a (much younger) barrister with whom he's had a relationship for seven years. Forget the usual clichés, for this younger woman is professional, fiercely independent. The judge's sons are divided in their reactions; they all, however, discover that they like Merrion despite the situation. This abridgment flows without any noticeable lapses, leaps or omissions. Lynn Redgrave's narration is impeccable. All of her characterizations are on the mark--her men are especially effective--and the degrees of emotion, as well as the geographical and social variances in dialect and accent, are effectively portrayed. Redgrave crafts a narrative interpretation as complex and satisfying as the novel itself. M.A.M. © AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/NOV 00]