If you loved
The Way We Live Now
Anthony Trollope · Book · 1999
You appreciate how The Way We Live Now exposes the rot beneath the surface of society through biting social satire.
Start with the source
Adaptation
The Way We Live Now
Series · 2001
Films on the same thread
Apocalypse Now
Francis Ford Coppola · Film · 1979
Explores: Moral Ambiguity, The Horrors of War, Loss of Innocence.
If The Way We Live Now hit, Apocalypse Now shares the thread.
The Wolf of Wall Street
Film · 2013
Shares a thread with The Way We Live Now: Greed.
Much like the financial corruption in The Way We Live Now, this film explores the unchecked greed and moral decay inherent in high-stakes environments where money dictates personal values.
Gone with the Wind
Victor Fleming · Film · 1939
Explores: Survival, Reconstruction Era, Lost Cause.
If The Way We Live Now hit, Gone with the Wind shares the thread.
Modern Times
Film · 1936
Explores: Industrialization, Poverty, Social Criticism.
If you enjoyed the stinging social critique of The Way We Live Now, you will recognize that same sharp, satirical eye applied here toward the dehumanizing effects of industrialization.
Series on the same thread
The Sopranos
David Chase · Series · 1999
Explores: Moral Ambiguity, Existential Crisis, Family Dynamics.
The moral ambiguity of the criminal underworld in this series mirrors the complex, compromising choices made by the characters navigating the corrupt social structures of The Way We Live Now.
Downton Abbey
Julian Fellowes · Series · 2010
Explores: Class conflict, Social change, Upstairs-Downstairs.
If The Way We Live Now hit, Downton Abbey shares the thread.
The Wire
David Simon · Series · 2002
Explores: Systemic Corruption, Moral Ambiguity, Urban Decay.
The systemic corruption depicted in this series serves as a modern, gritty counterpart to the widespread institutional dishonesty that Trollope so masterfully dismantled in The Way We Live Now.
Pride and Prejudice
Andrew Davies · Series · 1995
Explores: Social Class, Courtship, Misunderstandings.
This adaptation captures the same intense pressure of the marriage market that drives the plot of The Way We Live Now, focusing on the intersection of status and courtship.
Podcasts on the same thread
This American Life
This American Life · Podcast · 2026
Explores: The human condition, Personal narrative, Social observation.
If The Way We Live Now hit, This American Life shares the thread.
Bag Man
Rachel Maddow, MS NOW · Podcast · 2023
Explores: corruption, political scandal, accountability.
This investigation into political bribery echoes the themes of institutional rot and public deception that form the backbone of the scandal-ridden world of The Way We Live Now.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Way We Live Now based on a true story?
The Way We Live Now is a work of fiction written by Anthony Trollope in 1875. While not a true story, the author wrote it after returning to England in 1872, expressing his indignation regarding the perceived immorality, dishonesty, and corruption he observed in Victorian society.
How long is The Way We Live Now?
The Way We Live Now is the longest novel written by Anthony Trollope. It serves as a comprehensive satire of various sectors of Victorian life, including the aristocracy, the literary world, and the financial systems of the time, spanning a significant length to cover all these themes.
Should I watch The Way We Live Now TV adaptation after reading the book?
Yes, you can watch the 2001 television adaptation of The Way We Live Now after reading the original novel. The adaptation brings the story to life, covering the same themes of political corruption, financial scandal, and social intrigue that Anthony Trollope explored in his original 1875 text.
What themes does The Way We Live Now explore?
The Way We Live Now explores themes of immorality and dishonesty within Victorian society. Anthony Trollope uses his narrative to critique the aristocracy, the literary world, the financial sector, and the social pressures surrounding marriage and luxury, reflecting his own indignation at the state of England during that period.