Phineas Redux

Phineas Redux is set a couple of years after the time of Phineas Finn, when Finn goes back to Ireland and marries Mary Flood Jones. He is not that happy in Ireland after a few years living in London society and the London political world. But he loves Mary... and she becomes pregnant. However she dies in childbirth, and he is alone again. His father also dies, leaving him with a little money, and he decides to try his luck again in England. Things have changed since he left. Laura Kennedy's marriage has become increasingly unhappy and it seems that Robert has suffered a mental breakdown... and his religious mania has increased. In desperation, Laura leaves him and goes abroad to Germany with her father, where he cannot easily pursue her. Violet Effingham has married Chiltern, who has settled down and become a Master of Foxhounds, a job that gives him an outlet for his energy. Phineas feels more cheerful at the prospect of moving back to England and his old friends seem pleased to see him. He goes to Germany to visit Laura, and Lord Brentford asks his advice for her situation. Phineas says that she would problaby be better to go to the Divorce Court in England and get a legal separation - however he has visited Kennedy, who is clearly quite mad, and Laura does not want to go back -. Then Kennedy's mother takes him back to Scotland and looks after him and Laura begins to feel that she could face going home again. But her position as a runaway wife means that she will not be able to enter into society. Phineas stands for election, and wins his seat but his problem of needing a job is still there. He finds that he is quite popular iwith the ladies of the Liberal set, including Glencora Palliser but it rather annoys him as he knows that being the "Ladies' pet" is going to make male Liberals hostile to him.