The Way We Live Now
The Way We Live Now by Anthony Trollope is presented in a new edition published by Random House Publishing Group on August 14, 2001. This 896-page novel offers a satirical look at the literary world of London in the 1870s, focusing on the rise of speculative finance and its impact on society. The narrative centers on Augustus Melmotte, a French swindler, and his daughter, whose marriage proposal from Felix Carbury is driven by financial motives, highlighting the moral complexities of the era.
Readers will find a rich exploration of late-nineteenth-century England, where Trollope critiques the commercial excesses of his time through sharp character portrayals, particularly that of Lady Carbury, who embodies the self-serving nature of the literary scene. The book delves into themes of ambition, morality, and societal values, providing insight into a society grappling with ethical dilemmas. Through his storytelling, Trollope captures the essence of life over a century ago, making this work a significant contribution to the literary canon.
Official synopsis Publisher
‘Trollope did not write for posterity,’ observed Henry James. ‘He wrote for the day, the moment; but these are just the writers whom posterity is apt to put into its pocket.’ Considered by contemporary critics to be Trollope’s greatest novel, The Way We Live Now is a satire of the literary world of London in the 1870s and a bold indictment of the new power of speculative finance in English life. ‘I was instigated by what I conceived to be the commercial profligacy of the age,’ Trollope said.
His story concerns Augustus Melmotte, a French swindler and scoundrel, and his daughter, to whom Felix Carbury, adored son of the authoress Lady Carbury, is induced to propose marriage for the sake of securing a fortune. Trollope knew well the difficulties of dealing with editors, publishers, reviewers, and the public; his portrait of Lady Carbury, impetuous, unprincipled, and unswervingly devoted to her own self-promotion, is one of his finest satirical achievements.
His picture of late-nineteenth-century England is a portrait of a society on the verge of moral bankruptcy. In The Way We Live Now Trollope combines his talents as a portraitist and his skills as a storyteller to give us life as it was lived more than a hundred years ago.
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