Un financier véreux, des jeunes gens de bonne famille désargentés et voleurs, une romancière sans talent qui veut s'assurer les bonnes grâces des critiques, des politiciens malhonnêtes, des journalistes menteurs.
Un portrait sans concession du Londres victorien, qui n'est pas sans rappeler certaines affaires du vingtet-unième siècle. Un chef-d'oeuvre du roman satirique anglais !

Quelle époque !

The site of the present city of Washington was chosen with three special views; firstly, that being on the Potomac it might have the full advantage of water-carriage and a sea-port; secondly, that it might be so far removed from the seaboard as to be safe from invasion; and, thirdly, that it might be central alike to all the States. It was presumed when Washington was founded that these three advantages would be secured by the selected position. As regards the first, the Potomac affords to the city but few of the advantages of a sea-port. Ships can come up, but not ships of large burthen. The river seems to have dwindled since the site was chosen; and at present it is, I think, evident that Washington can never be great in its shipping. Statio benefida carinis can never be its motto. As regards the second point, singularly enough Washington is the only city of the Union that has been in an enemy's possession since the United States became a nation. In the war of 1812 it fell into our hands, and we burnt it. As regards the third point, Washington, from the lie of the land, can hardly have been said to be centrical at any time. Owing to the irregularities of the coast it is not easy of access by railways from different sides. Baltimore would have been far better. But as far as we can now see, and as well as we can now judge, Washington will soon be on the borders of the nation to which it belongs, instead of at its centre. I fear, therefore, that we must acknowledge that the site chosen for his country's capital by George Washington has not been fortunate.
I have a strong idea, which I expressed before in speaking of the capital of the Canadas, that no man can ordain that on such a spot shall be built a great and thriving city. No man can so ordain even though he leave behind him, as was the case with Washington, a prestige sufficient to bind his successors to his wishes. The political leaders of the country have done what they could for Washington. The pride of the nation has endeavoured to sustain the character of its chosen metropolis. There has been no rival, soliciting favour on the strength of other charms. The country has all been agreed on the point since the father of the country first commenced the work.

North America

Le révérend Mark Robarts doit tout à Lady Lufton, la maîtresse de Framley : sa cure, obtenue très jeune, et sa charmante épouse. Il a cependant d'autres ambitions qui l'entraînent à des fréquentations suspectes. Au bord de la ruine, Robarts ne peut risquer de froisser sa bienfaitrice. Quitte à compromettre les projets de mésalliance de son ami, Lord Lufton, amoureux de Lucy Robarts, sa propre soeur...

La cure de Framley

La Sinécure

It is certainly of service to a man to know who were his grandfathers and who were his grandmothers if he entertain an ambition to move in the upper circles of society, and also of service to be able to speak of them as of persons who were themselves somebodies in their time. No doubt we all entertain great respect for those who by their own energies have raised themselves in the world; and when we hear that the son of a washerwoman has become Lord Chancellor or Archbishop of Canterbury we do, theoretically and abstractedly, feel a higher reverence for such self-made magnate than for one who has been as it were born into forensic or ecclesiastical purple. But not the less must the offspring of the washerwoman have had very much trouble on the subject of his birth, unless he has been, when young as well as when old, a very great man indeed.

The Prime Minister

"Le Domaine de Belton" de Anthony Trollope. Romancier britannique les plus celebres(1815-1882).

Le Domaine de Belton

The prime minister

Indefer Jones se trouve mal-en-point au debut du roman. Il s'inquiete alors de son heritage et il hesite longuement avant d'etablir son testament. Il aimerait tant pouvoir laisser ses terres de Llanfeare a sa niece Isabel. Celle-ci vit avec lui depuis des annees et est appreciee de tous les fermiers et villageois. Mais Indefer Jones veut respecter la tradition et se decide en faveur de son neveu Henry qu'il connait a peine et qu'il ne porte pas dans son estime. Indefer Jones a neanmoins une idee pour regler son cas de conscience: et si Isabel epousait son cousin Henry ?"

Quelle époque !

Résumé

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