The Way We Live Now

Synopsis

'Love is like any other luxury. You have no right to it unless you can afford it.' It is impossible to be sure who Melmotte is, let alone what exactly he has done. He is, seemingly, a gentleman, and a great financier, who penetrates to the heart of the state, reaching even inside the Houses of Parliament. He draws the English establishment into his circle, including Lady Carbury, a 43 year-old coquette and her son Felix, who is persuaded to invest in a notional railway business. Huge sums of money are at stake, as well as romantic happiness. The Way We Live Now is usually thought Trollope's major work of satire but is better described as his most substantial exploration of a form of crime fiction, where the crimes are both literal and moral. It is a text preoccupied by detection and the unmasking of swindlers. As such it is a narrative of exceptional tension: a novel of rumour, gossip, and misjudgment, where every second counts. For many of Trollope's characters, calamity and exposure are just around the corner.

Summary

Chapter 1: "The Finland Line"

Paul Morell, a journalist, returns to London from a business trip. He is bored with his life and contemplates suicide. He meets Nora Vance, a young American widow, on a ferry from Finland. Nora tells Paul about her husband's death in a car accident and her desire to find a new purpose in life.

Chapter 2: "The Hamley Dinner"

Paul attends a dinner party at the Hamley's, a wealthy family. He meets Sir Ferdinand Lopez, a powerful financier, and his daughter, Henrietta. Paul is drawn to Henrietta's beauty and intellect.

Chapter 3: "The Temple Bar"

Paul and Nora have an affair. Paul becomes increasingly entangled in Nora's life and her connections to the Hamley family. He also discovers that Sir Ferdinand is involved in a corrupt business deal.

Chapter 4: "The Chess Club"

Paul becomes a member of the exclusive Chess Club, where he meets Roger Carnaby, an aristocrat and friend of Sir Ferdinand. Paul learns about the club's secret activities and the role it plays in society.

Chapter 5: "The Dragon Club"

Paul and Nora attend a party at the Dragon Club, a bohemian nightclub. They meet Augustus Melmotte, a wealthy businessman who has recently arrived in London. Paul suspects that Melmotte is a fraud.

Chapter 6: "The Eccleston Square"

Henrietta Hamley becomes engaged to Melmotte. Paul tries to warn her about his true nature, but she ignores his warnings.

Chapter 7: "The Longstaffe Crisis"

Melmotte's financial empire collapses, causing widespread panic. Paul and Nora are implicated in the scandal and become social outcasts.

Chapter 8: "The Adelaide Crescent"

Paul and Nora move to a small house in Adelaide Crescent. They struggle to make ends meet and live a quiet life.

Chapter 9: "The Stanhope Gate"

Paul and Nora reconcile and marry. They have a child, but Nora dies shortly after giving birth.

Chapter 10: "The Embassy"

Paul becomes the director of an embassy. He returns to London and lives out his days in obscurity.