The Way We Live Now (Wordsworth
Classics) by Anthony Trollope
Great Read
Trollopes 1875 tale of a great financiers fraudulent machinations in the
railway business, and his daughters ill-use at the hands of a grasping
lover (for whom she steals funds in order to elope) is a classic in the
literature of money and a ripping good read as well.
Personal Review: The Way We Live Now (Wordsworth Classics)
by Anthony Trollope
I read Anthony Trollope's novel after I had seen the BBC mini-series of the
same name. Although I had read a lot of Dickens, Thackeray and Elliot I
had never read any of Trollope's novels. I am glad that I watched the BBC
adaptation because this novel is as delightful to read as those of the
famous novelists mentioned above.
The story starts with the introduction of Lady Carbury and her good-for-
nothing son Sir Felix Carbury but soon many other characters are
introduced. Among this the great financier and swindler Auguste Melmotte
is the most interesting. As in the Dickens novels, the villains are the most
fascinating characters here. There are some side stories like that of Hetta
Carbury-Paul Montague and Ruby Rubbles-John Crumb. But to tell the
truth, these stories are not as enjoyable to read as the others except that
they introduce us to some great characters like Mrs. Hurtle and Roger
Carbury. Mrs. Hurtle is very interesting because her ideas of how a woman
should take control of her own destiny are very modern. Roger Carbury is
in fact the only character who behaves honorably and sensibly throughout
the novel with the addition of maybe Hetta Carbury but she is of too little
consequence to deserve any interest.
Another character to note is Marie Melmotte, Melmotte's daugher who
becomes the object of many a titled personality's attentions not because
she is beautiful and her family is respectable but because her father is very

rich. She evolves through the novel and comes out as one of the strongest
characters.
Involvement of Dolly Longstaffe and Lord Nidderdale are also very
enjoyable because although they are very mercenary in their attitude there
is a comic element to their existence.
Anthony Trollope's depiction of the society in the Victorian times is very
interesting. In the earlier novels that I have read, like Jane Austen's novels
of the Edwardian era, although people are governed by monetary
concerns, they always take care to stay within some principles like never
condescending to marry someone in trade. Here we see that land owners
are willing to associate with City people. There is a changing attitude
against Jewish people too. I don't agree with the opinions of some
reviewers who think the novel is anti-Semitic. Although Melmotte is thought
to be a Jew and Georgiana Longstaffe's engagement to Mr Brehgert is
considered scandalous by her family, Trollope takes care to express his
views about people's hypocrisy when he says the Christians who are
outraged at such connections never visit the church themselves. Also, in
spite of carrying out transactions with Melmotte, Mr Brehgert comes out as
quite a decent and honest man. Another interesting point concerning
religion is made through Roger Carbury's friendship of a Catholic priest.
Although this side story sounds a bit contrived, it is interesting to note that
one of the most respectable characters in the story is quite open-minded
about having dinners with a priest though in time he gets annoyed with his
over his over-zealousness in trying to convert himself.
All in all a very enjoyable satire and though it may look a a bit long to
today's reader, I read in almost in a breath except for a few chapters where
I wanted them to finish so that I could get to the adventures of more
interesting characters.
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