Discover books similar to "The Way We Live Now"

Anthony Trollope

Barchester Towers

If you enjoyed the social commentary and satire in 'The Way We Live Now', you'll likely appreciate Trollope's 'Barchester Towers'. This novel, the second in the Chronicles of Barsetshire series, offers a witty and insightful look into the lives of 19th-century English clergy and their families, as they navigate power struggles, romantic entanglements, and personal ambitions.

George Eliot

Middlemarch

Fans of 'The Way We Live Now' will find much to admire in Eliot's 'Middlemarch', a rich and complex novel set in a small English town during the 1830s. The novel delves into the lives of several characters, exploring their relationships, ambitions, and the societal expectations they face, all while offering a nuanced critique of the social and political climate of the time.

William Makepeace Thackeray

Vanity Fair

Thackeray's 'Vanity Fair' shares the same acerbic wit and incisive social commentary as 'The Way We Live Now'. The novel follows the lives of two women, Becky Sharp and Amelia Sedley, as they navigate the treacherous waters of Regency-era English society, displaying the hypocrisy, greed, and vanity of their world.

George Eliot

Daniel Deronda

'Daniel Deronda' is another masterpiece by George Eliot, which deals with themes of identity, love, and social responsibility, much like 'The Way We Live Now'. The novel explores the interconnected stories of Daniel Deronda, a young man searching for his purpose, and Gwendolen Harleth, a woman torn between her desires and societal expectations.

Charles Dickens

Our Mutual Friend

Dickens's 'Our Mutual Friend' is a sprawling, intricate novel that shares Trollope's interest in examining the lives of the wealthy and the working class. Set in Victorian London, the novel weaves together the stories of several characters, exposing the corruption, greed, and social stratification of the time.

Anthony Trollope

The Prime Minister

As a follow-up to 'The Way We Live Now', 'The Prime Minister' offers another insightful look into the world of 19th-century English politics and society. The novel centers around Plantagenet Palliser, who becomes Prime Minister, and his wife, Lady Glencora, as they navigate the complexities of political life and personal relationships.

George Eliot

Felix Holt, the Radical

'Felix Holt, the Radical' is a thought-provoking novel that, like 'The Way We Live Now', delves into the social and political issues of its time. The novel follows the story of Felix Holt, a radical thinker and reformer, as he becomes embroiled in the lives of the Estabrook family and the turbulent world of 19th-century English politics.

Henry James

The Bostonians

Henry James's 'The Bostonians' shares Trollope's interest in exploring the complexities of personal relationships and societal expectations. Set in post-Civil War Boston, the novel follows the story of Olive Chancellor, a wealthy, influential woman, and her relationships with Basil Ransom, a Southern lawyer, and Verena Tarrant, a charismatic young speaker.

Anthony Trollope

The Eustace Diamonds

'The Eustace Diamonds' is another engaging novel by Anthony Trollope that combines elements of mystery, romance, and social commentary. The novel follows the story of Lizzie Eustace, a beautiful and manipulative young widow, as she fights to keep her late husband's priceless diamonds and the affections of the men in her life.

George Eliot

Adam Bede

'Adam Bede' is a powerful and moving novel by George Eliot that, like 'The Way We Live Now', delves into the complexities of human relationships and societal expectations. Set in rural England, the novel follows the story of Adam Bede, a carpenter, and his unrequited love for Hetty Sorrel, a beautiful dairymaid, as their lives become intertwined with tragedy and redemption.