The Way We Live Now (Barnes & Noble Classics Series)

A Madoff of the 1800's

I decided to pick this book up again and re-read it in light of the financial disaster, possibly the biggest fraud in history, perpetrated by Bernie Madoff (not sure of first name). The story takes place in the mid 1800's London & surround...several titled, but money-less gentry are all pursuing the fabulously wealthy yet vulgar Melmotte and his marriage age (but unattractive) daughter. Throughout the novel there are murmurings of Melmotte's swindling and fraud committed throughout Europe but people choose to be blinded by his seemingly endless wealth. The story explores and elucidates the social mores (or lack thereof) of the Victorian times (a favorite literary time for me). We see how the landed folk are willing to pander themselves for a stab at becoming fabulously wealthy (no matter how that wealth was acquired)--they will stop at nothing to gain wealth without working (something they consider to be a dirty thing). There is also an American female character, Mrs. Hurtle, divorced and aggressive pioneer (or buccaneer woman) who is an interesting character acting as a foil to the gentle upper crust English ladies. Mrs. Hurtle represents the wild, untamed American frontier where anyone can start out poor and end up rich without regrets (although she would like to find a man and settle down to share her riches).

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Errors

The samizdat version reads as if edited by non english speaker
Errors on every page
Novel is astonishing but this version a disaster

epic

900 pages went by more quickly than i could have thought possible....great storytelling, impressive characters, and beautiful language.

Darn Good Read

Do not be put off by the thick Victorian presentation! This book, although written in an old-fashioned style due to its age, nonetheless grasps unsavory elements of human nature and the beginnings of characters we recognize all too well today.

The Way We Live Now Really Is How We Live Now

I had to laugh at how accurate the dipictions of human psychology and society in this novel. History does seem to repeat itself to a certain extent, and this book has much resonance with our current culture of greed. Also a joy just to read for the wit, solid writing and perfect structure. As a book doctor who edits wannabe novelists, I recommend this as a great model of how to assemble material into a fine book.

Best Novel of the Last Century

THE WAY WE LIVE NOW is is a dark and witty commentary upon a society that has just-discovered capitalist manipulation of wealth. The author's maidens who can't make up their minds are not in this masterpiece. All the characters are out for themselves in a detailed scramble for money. The central character of Augustus Melmotte is the greatest figure of imagination created in the last century. Like Gatsby, he is ourselves had we been asked to be a character in the novel. Both the movie Wall Street and the book Bonfire of Vanities could never have been had not Trollope shown the way. There are a dozen or so wonderful characters in this story, not the least Melmotte's daughter, who is far from a blushing maiden in money matters. The TV version of this story goes one better than the novel by introducing details that Trollope would have omitted from a sense of delicacy; the script, casting and acting in the TV version (available from barnes and noble.com)are twice as enjoyable when you have read the novel.

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