# Quintus Slide — Phineas Redux character guide

> Quintus Slide in Phineas Redux by Anthony Trollope.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Mr. Slide, Slide, Mr. Quintus Slide

**First appearance:** 0026-xxvii-an-editor-s-wrath

## Snapshot

A gutter-press journalist whose pen turns private grudges into public ruin, he hounds Phineas Finn through the columns of the People's Banner.

## Who they are

Slide is the kind of enemy a rising politician never sees coming: a man who buys ink by the barrel and knows exactly which reputations can be shredded for profit. His power lies in the gap between what is true and what can be printed, and he wields it without shame or scruple. In the novel's middle stretch, his vendetta against Phineas becomes one of the forces that turns a career into a crisis.

## In the story

### [Purity of Morals, Finn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_redux_se/chapters/xxii-purity-of-morals-finn)

Now a Conservative editor of the People's Banner, he visits Phineas to threaten publication of Kennedy's letter, offering to suppress it if Phineas persuades Lady Laura to return to her husband.

### [Macpherson's Hotel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_redux_se/chapters/xxiii-macpherson-s-hotel)

Editor of the People's Banner; holds the printed letter and seeks to publish it.

### [An Editor's Wrath](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_redux_se/chapters/xxvii-an-editor-s-wrath)

Editor of the People's Banner, enraged by the injunction and the loss of the Kennedy letter story.

### [The First Thunderbolt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_redux_se/chapters/xxviii-the-first-thunderbolt)

Editor of the People's Banner, he writes a malicious and false article attacking Phineas Finn, believing he is defending public morals.

### [The World Becomes Cold](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_redux_se/chapters/xxxii-the-world-becomes-cold)

Editor of The People's Banner; continues to publish attacks and false stories about Phineas.

### [The Conspiracy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_redux_se/chapters/xxxvii-the-conspiracy)

Mentioned as an enemy who has harmed Phineas's reputation through the People's Banner.

### [The Second Thunderbolt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_redux_se/chapters/xliii-the-second-thunderbolt)

Editor of The People's Banner; publishes a second thunderbolt article attacking Phineas and criticizing the government.

### [Phineas Finn Is Reelected](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_redux_se/chapters/lxxi-phineas-finn-is-reelected)

Editor of The People's Banner; struggles to maintain his persecution of Finn after the acquittal; writes articles questioning Finn's fitness for Parliament.

### [LXXX: Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_redux_se/chapters/lxxx-conclusion)

Continues attacking Phineas Finn, leading to a libel action; loses his position and plans to seek fortune in New York.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_redux_se/characters/quintus_slide
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_redux_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_redux_se/characters