The Way We Live Now
What is The Way We Live Now about?
The Way We Live Now (1875) is widely considered Trollope's masterpiece and one of the greatest Victorian novels. At its center is Augustus Melmotte, a mysterious foreign financier who arrives in London and dazzles high society with his wealth. Everyone — from aristocrats to merchants to writers — scrambles to associate with him despite suspecting he may be a fraud. The novel is a sweeping, savage satire of a society corrupted by greed, speculation, and the worship of money. Trollope examines how financial dishonesty infects every level of society, from the stock market to the marriage market.
Main themes in The Way We Live Now
Financial fraud
Financial fraud emerges as a defining element in The Way We Live Now, shaping character development.
Social corruption
In The Way We Live Now, social corruption provides a lens for understanding the story's core message.
Greed
The theme of greed weaves through The Way We Live Now, adding depth to its narrative.
Victorian satire
Victorian satire emerges as a defining element in The Way We Live Now, shaping character development.
Why The Way We Live Now is still relevant today
The Way We Live Now is astonishingly relevant to modern readers, its portrait of financial fraud, celebrity culture, and moral bankruptcy reading like a commentary on today's world. Often compared to the 2008 financial crisis and corporate scandals.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Way We Live Now about?
A sweeping satire about a mysterious financier who corrupts London society. Trollope's scathing critique of greed and speculation is considered his greatest novel.
Why is it considered his best work?
It's Trollope's most ambitious and critical novel, attacking the moral bankruptcy of Victorian society with a scope and ferocity unmatched in his other works. Read free on TextStack.