Six great novels by Anthony Trollope formed the basis for this dramatisation, by Simon Raven, for television as The Pallisers - the finest sequence of fiction based on British Parliamentary life, ever. The Pallisers are an aristocratic family, and the series charts the fortunes as this political dynasty moves its way through high society during the reign of Queen Victoria. Plantagenet Palliser and the spirited Lady Glencora are both thoroughly, but unsuitably, in love with others when their elders declare them the perfect match. The marraige is politically advantageous, and sets the stage for this fascinating chronicle.

The series is a staggering 26 episodes long, and by the time it was made, the book son which it was based had been in print for 100 years. Trollope had the first of these, Can You Forgive Her? published in 1865, and it is this that the first 6 episodes are based. Four years later came Phineas Finn, and a further four years after that, The Eustace Diamonds. These two form the basis for the next 8 episodes. It was only a year before the next book, Phineas Redux, was published and this covers the five episodes 14-19, closely followed in 1876 by The Prime Minister taking the story near to its end. tTe last two episodes are based on the final book, The Duke's Children that was published in 1880.

This was the heyday of BBC costume drama, and as such the cast is impressive (and very long), however, the stars of the show were undoubtedly Philip Latham as Plantagenet Palliser, Susan Hampshire as Lady Glencora Palliser, Anna Massey as Lady Laura Standish, Barbara Murrey as Madame Max Goesler and Roland Culver as the Duke of Omnium. Aired in two stages in 1974, 19th January to 29th June, and then concluded between the 26th October and 2nd November, the whole story is now available on video and DVD (US only for the time being) from Acorn Media.

All three of the UK double videos are priced £19.99, and are stunningly good value running to over 400 minutes a piece, whilst if youa re in the US, the first two sets of DVDs are available (and can be ordered online). As a special bonus with the DVDs, an edited version of the Radio Times companion booklet is included, and gives an 'at a glance' glossary of all that you need to know about the Victorian age,a nd certainly about the Palliser dynasty.