Why on earth does this keep happening?
Given the epic technological and constitutional changes underway, turmoil is hardly surprising
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In Anthony Trollope’s The Way We Live Now, the villain of the piece (or one of the villains, the one who conveniently for the other characters gets all the blame) contemplates his imminent downfall and disgrace which must surely come the next morning. Melmotte has imbibed and is in a morose mood. What, he asks himself, could he have done differently to avoid the collapse of his City of London financial empire? Why he wailed, had he let himself be dazzled by the bright lights and London society into overextending himself and chasing status? Why had he not concentrated on running his business - in Abchurch Lane in the City - instead of going into Parliament?
“Why,” writes Trollope, “had he called down unnecessary notice on his head by entertaining the Emperor of China? It was too late now, and he must bear it; but these were the things that had ruined him.”