The Way We Live Now - The Destruction of Art

You may have to return to 1875 when Anthony Trollope’s published a novel with that title. 

A four-part BBC miniseries (2001) based on it depicts the depredations on British society of a Jewish banker, “Augustus Melmotte.” It shows his effect on people eager to protect their values, yet vulnerable to temptation (i.e. greed.)

Melmotte is a shady figure, recently arrived from Frankfurt via Vienna trailing rumors of bank collapses and swindles. He quickly establishes himself in London as the go-to man for investment and profit.

Paul Montague, an earnest young English engineer seeks Melmotte’s backing for a railroad running from Salt Lake City to Vera Cruz in Mexico.

 Melmotte floats the company on the London Stock Exchange without any intention of actually building the railway.

There is a marvellous scene where Melmotte lectures his (gentile) Board of Directors on the profit motive, which “moves mountains and changes the world.” He advises them to put their last shilling in railway shares for it will quadruple!

“Just trust me!” he says. The effect on them is intoxicating.

Melmotte runs for office and his hustings speech is both intoxicating and prescient:

 “We have had the Austrian Empire and the Ottoman Empire. These will all be replaced by the Empire of Trade. The result will be untold wealth for all of you!”

There are many romantic subplots that involve marrying for love vs. money, a Victorian preoccupation. In one, the daughter of a struggling English aristocrat is about to marry another Jewish banker when he drops her.

“I’ve been jilted by a Jew!” she exclaims in disbelief.

Generally speaking, the miniseries is not anti-Semitic although it pokes fun at the Jews’ lack of grace and manners. However, it is just as scathing in its criticism of the decadent English aristocracy.  

In the end, Melmotte’s love-starved daughter, Marie, is quite sympathetic. And Melmotte’s Jewish associates Breghert and Croll are portrayed as honorable men.

Ultimately, the novel/miniseries is an inspired preview of the overthrow of traditional values by the satanic reductionism of profit championed by Jewish finance.  It is hard to believe that this novel was written before the Panama Scandal of 1892 and the Marconi Scandal of 1912.

David Suchet (of Hercules Poirot fame) is convincing as Melmotte and Mathew Macfadyen is a hoot as the wastrel Felix Carbury.

I highly recommend this miniseries as a heartening reminder of art when it upheld truth and enduring wisdom. The BBC today is nothing but the propaganda wing of the Melmotte party.