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Cover of The Way We Live Now

The Way We Live Now

Written by Anthony Trollope

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SatireMate selectionLondon (England)Capitalists and financiersCommercial crimes

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About this book

"The Way We Live Now" by Anthony Trollope is a novel written during the late 19th century that delves into the intricacies of society, morality, and human relations in Victorian England. At its center is Lady Matilda Carbury, a woman striving to secure her and her children's future amidst the complexities of love, ambition, and financial instability. The narrative explores themes of social status, literary aspirations, and the interplay of wealth and character. At the start of the novel, Lady Carbury is introduced as a determined writer, penning letters to several editors in hopes of garnering support for her latest literary work. As the story unfolds, we learn about her relationships with her son, Sir Felix Carbury, who is frivolous and deeply in debt, and her daughter, Henrietta, who appears more virtuous and grounded. The opening chapters outline Lady Carbury's desperate attempt to navigate the male-dominated literary world and secure a position of respect while grappling with her family's financial troubles and Sir Felix's pursuit of wealth through marriage to an heiress. With a cast of characters including editors and socialites, the narrative sets the stage for an intricate exploration of societal expectations and personal ambitions.

Reading guide

Themes, characters and key ideas in The Way We Live Now, written by Chaptra AI.

  • about 35 hours
  • advanced
  • satirical
  • critical
  • sprawling

Anthony Trollope's "The Way We Live Now" is a sprawling, incisive satire of Victorian society, exposing the moral decay and rampant financial speculation of the 1870s. The narrative intricately weaves together the fortunes and misfortunes of a vast cast, primarily centering on the meteoric rise and scandalous fall of the fraudulent financier Augustus Melmotte, and the struggles of the genteel but impoverished Carbury family. Through these interconnected stories, Trollope critiques the corrosive influence of wealth, the superficiality of social ambition, and the decline of traditional values in an era obsessed with appearances and quick riches. It stands as a powerful indictment of a society where integrity is often sacrificed for status and where genuine merit struggles against the tide of ostentatious display and moral compromise.

“"The way we live now is all for show, and not for reality."”

Key themes

Social Hypocrisy and Moral Decay
Trollope meticulously exposes the pervasive hypocrisy of Victorian society, where appearances and wealth often supersede genuine morality. The novel shows how London's elite eagerly embraces figures like Melmotte, despite strong suspicions of his fraudulent nature, simply because he provides lavish entertainment and the illusion of prosperity. This theme highlights the superficiality and moral bankruptcy underlying the glittering facade of high society.
The Power of Money and Financial Speculation
Money is the central driving force of the novel, exploring its corrupting influence and the dangers of unchecked financial speculation. Trollope dissects how the pursuit of wealth, particularly 'new money' derived from dubious schemes rather than inherited land or honest labor, can distort values, friendships, and even love. It examines the mechanisms of fraud and the societal complicity that allows it to flourish.
Integrity vs. Ambition
The novel consistently contrasts characters who prioritize integrity and moral principles (like Roger Carbury) with those driven by unbridled ambition and a willingness to compromise their ethics for social and financial gain (like Melmotte, Sir Felix, and Lopez). It explores the difficult choices individuals face when personal advancement conflicts with honesty and honor.

Worth discussing

How does Trollope use the character of Augustus Melmotte to critique the Victorian obsession with wealth and social status?

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