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A review by steller0707
The Way We Live Now by Anthony Trollope
5.0
There were no doubt gentlemen of different degrees, but the English gentleman of gentlemen was he who had land, and family title-deeds, and an old family place, and family portraits, and family embarrassments, and a family absence of any useful employment.
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Americans especially, after the 2016 election, may be tempted to mutter this saying over and over as they follow the machinations of Augustus Melmotte, the Great Financier in this satire of London life in Victorian times.
When Melmotte comes to London, he makes himself known as a wealthy man. His business deals and investment opportunities are the talk of the town, and serve as a magnet for London aristocracy. Invitations to his parties are hotly sought after. For Melmotte has a daughter of marrying age, and money and marriage-making take up a good deal of energy in Victorian London. Settling on the right match is good for the whole family in upper-class society!
There is a large cast of interesting characters and situations. (There's lots of settling to do!) The writing is so detailed that each character's state of mind in each scene is examined facet by facet, turning over every possible point of view. Yet to its credit, even though it took weeks to get through this long book, I still remembered over time the threads of the complex, and in some ways, fast-moving plot. It felt like a book to savor. And I did!
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Americans especially, after the 2016 election, may be tempted to mutter this saying over and over as they follow the machinations of Augustus Melmotte, the Great Financier in this satire of London life in Victorian times.
When Melmotte comes to London, he makes himself known as a wealthy man. His business deals and investment opportunities are the talk of the town, and serve as a magnet for London aristocracy. Invitations to his parties are hotly sought after. For Melmotte has a daughter of marrying age, and money and marriage-making take up a good deal of energy in Victorian London. Settling on the right match is good for the whole family in upper-class society!
There is a large cast of interesting characters and situations. (There's lots of settling to do!) The writing is so detailed that each character's state of mind in each scene is examined facet by facet, turning over every possible point of view. Yet to its credit, even though it took weeks to get through this long book, I still remembered over time the threads of the complex, and in some ways, fast-moving plot. It felt like a book to savor. And I did!