Anthony Trollope (1815—1882) was an English novelist of the Victorian era. Among his best-known works is a series of novels collectively known as the Chronicles of Barsetshire, which revolves around the imaginary county of Barsetshire. "Phineas Finn" is the second of six novels in another famous series, "The Palliser Novels", also known as the Parliamentary Novels. The novel introduces its title character, Phineas Finn, a talented but naive doctor's son from Ireland.