Following the death of his wife, the Duke of Omnium struggles to navigate the complex lives of his children while reconciling his rigid expectations with their modern choices.

As a widower and former Prime Minister, the Duke attempts to exert control over his children’s personal and professional lives, only to find them resistant to his traditional values. The narrative follows the friction between the Duke’s desire for familial order and the independent paths taken by his heirs, particularly his son Lord Silverbridge. The story utilizes a third-person omniscient perspective to examine the generational divide within the British aristocracy. The world is defined by the strict social codes and political expectations of the Victorian era, which serve as the primary logical constraints for the characters' actions.

Readers and critics frequently highlight the psychological depth Trollope brings to the relationship between the Duke and his children. Discussion often centers on the novel's effectiveness in portraying the transition from traditional Victorian values to a more modern, individualistic outlook. Many observers appreciate the restoration of the original text, noting that the additional length provides necessary context for the characters' motivations. The pacing is described as deliberate, allowing for a thorough examination of social and political themes without sacrificing character nuance. Readers often find the Duke’s internal struggle to be a compelling study of human resistance to inevitable change.