The
Way We Live Now,
Trollope's longest novel -100 chapters – is inspired by the financial
scandals of the early 1870s. Augustus Melmotte, a European-born
city financier, whose origins are as mysterious as his business dealings is at
the center of the story. The author describes him as "something in the city.” But
that "something in the city” part is not
always clear.
Within weeks of arriving in London, he announces a new company and promises instant fortune to those who join him in this scheme. Melmotte is surrounded by a circle of decadent aristocrats, scheming widows and nouveau riche businessmen, all trying to get a piece of the financial pie. Doesn’t it all sound like what’s happening in present day times in many parts of the world?
Within weeks of arriving in London, he announces a new company and promises instant fortune to those who join him in this scheme. Melmotte is surrounded by a circle of decadent aristocrats, scheming widows and nouveau riche businessmen, all trying to get a piece of the financial pie. Doesn’t it all sound like what’s happening in present day times in many parts of the world?
The
female characters are treated with sympathy, clearly struggling to make their
way in a society where their scope for freedom of maneuver is highly
restricted, though Henrietta Carbury and her innocent and longing trials with
her suitor, Paul Montague, comes across as more elegant and refined than those
of many modern heroines.
It’s a powerful Victorian satire on greed and
dishonesty that pervaded the moral,
political and intellectual life of that era, a novel in which each and everyone
of his characters has a fault of some kind- the same as people are in real life.
Trollope's
masterpiece, that enlightens as well as it entertains, is as relevant today as
it was when he wrote it. His descriptive writing makes it rather easy for the
reader to visualize characters, locals, country side and the various cities very
well.
Find my review here: Amazon.com