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Title: The Way We Live Now by Anthony Trollope, John Sutherland ISBN: 0-19-283561-0 Publisher: Oxford University Press Pub. Date: December, 1999 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $11.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.42 (12 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Those Who Forget the Past ....
Comment: Aside from the fact that this book takes place 125 years ago, it could be an end of year round-up for the corporate and political scandals of 2002. Trollope takes a deft look at the conditions of a culture that allow the Melmottes of the world to walk in and wreak havoc, (laziness, entitlement, greed) and one gets a very queasy feeling watching the bubble inflate, followed by the inevitable collapse of the whole house of cards. At least Melmotte doesn't take the whole country down with him. We may not be so lucky.
On the down side, I'm guessing (it feels like) these chapters were published in newspaper form before they were assembled for the book, as each chapter contains much unnecesary reiteration, and if you're reading straight through it can be annoying. In addition, Trollope doesn't have Dickens' delicious wit or keen insight into character, and some plots which seem to be headed for the interesting turn of event are instead allowed to dangle or resolve themselves dully. (I'm thinking particularly of Mrs. Hurtle here.) And for me, the fact that there is no one to take a particular interest in, no moral compass so to speak, left me feeling a bit adrift. Yes, people are deeply flawed. But one character who was perhaps a bit less flawed than the others would have given me something to hang my hat on.
Still, a page turner par excellence.
Rating: 5
Summary: Like it happened yesterday.
Comment: This book was my first encounter with the works of Anthony Trollope. While it is not entirely surprising that Trollope's legacy is overshadowed by the ones of contemporaries like Dickens, Austen, Elliot and Thackeray, this book gives such a juicy historic precursor to the Enron and WorldCom scandals, that it deserves a spot on the current bestsellers list.
In detailing the rise and fall of the swindler-turned-tycoon Melmotte and the pathetic tendency of the bankrupt gentry to simultaneously woo and despise him, Trollope gives us a satire for the ages. Moreover, the repeated dogma that it's OK to do the wrong thing and have the wrong friends as long as everybody else is doing it, is also right on the money. While Theodore Dreiser took the psychological analysis of the swindler to a whole other level in his "The Financier", Melmotte is still a wonderfully well rounded crook.
The second memorable character is lady Carbury. Trollope shaped her and her literary aspirations after his own mother. While I was not too impressed with the exposure of the "literary world" that her character allowed, the lady is a nice archetype of the survivor, who yet is willing to sacrifice everything for her loser son.
Apart from these main characters, archetypes, there is a large supporting cast adding themes of love, betrayal, abuse and manipulation. While many of the players provide the context of a society sucking up to Melmotte, the great number of themes and intrigues leads to too much diffusion of the central theme. While characters like Roger Carbury and Ms. Hurtle are well rounded, the resolution of their "issues" is rather lackluster.
In his portrayal of the demise of the British gentry after passage of the two reform bills Trollope has drawn parallels with the decline of the roman Empire and includes many a reference to good old Horatius. A lot of the book can be encompassed in the non-included quote: ad spectatum veniunt, veniunt spectantur ut ipse (=they come to the spectacle, (yet) come to be seen themselves). In addition, this book provides one of the best examples that I have encountered, that you can't be doing the wrong thing as long as everybody else is doing it.
A good, entertaining and fairly easy read.
Rating: 4
Summary: Looking to know Trollope...try elsewhere
Comment: ... Too many plots, characters not given enough space to breathe, and way too much wrap-up yields a less than satisfying experience. But Trollope is a great writer, and when he's on top, as he is often throughout this book, he is untouchable. The Beargarden is astonishing, and has anyone ever written about so many different wastrels and made them all unique? Georgina and her brother Dolly could make a novel themselves. Poor Marie....desperate to be loved. Very touching stuff.
But the main story gets lost under so much weight that the overall novel loses its focus and just stunbles to a number of unconvincing conclusions. My favorite book is He Knew He Was Right. The sub-plots there enhance the story, and the characters are more vivid and less simplistic.
If you're here after the PBS series, note please...that series is adapted from this novel. There is a lot missing and a lot changed (all to the worse, I would argue). If you are new to Trollope, I would suggest The Palliser series or HKHWR. This is much less worth the time, though still a sparkling read with brilliant flashes.
Anti-Semitism? People are too touchy. The characters are certainly narrow-minded bigots, but Trollope himself is clear and potent. The "old, fat Jew" is among the most noble, most intelligent, and touching characters in Trollope. A gentleman, a sincere man, and one touched by the ugliness of his world but rising majestically above it.
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Title: He Knew He Was Right by Anthony Trollope, Frank Kermode, John Sutherland ISBN: 0140433910 Publisher: Penguin Books Pub. Date: 01 April, 1996 List Price(USD): $11.95 |
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Title: The Eustace Diamonds (Oxford World's Classics) by Anthony Trollope, W. J. McCormack, Blair Hughes-Stanton ISBN: 0192834665 Publisher: Oxford University Press Pub. Date: 01 December, 1998 List Price(USD): $8.95 |
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Title: Orley Farm (Oxford World's Classics) by Anthony Trollope, David Skilton ISBN: 0192838563 Publisher: Oxford University Press Pub. Date: 01 May, 2001 List Price(USD): $11.95 |
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Title: Can You Forgive Her (The Penguine Trollope, vol. 17) by Anthony Trollope, Stephen Wall ISBN: 0140430865 Publisher: Penguin Books Pub. Date: 01 June, 1975 List Price(USD): $11.95 |
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Title: Phineas Finn by Anthony Trollope, W. J. MacCormack ISBN: 0460874977 Publisher: Everymans Library Pub. Date: 01 August, 1997 List Price(USD): $6.95 |
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