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The Struggles of Brown, Jones, and Robinson
Anthony Trollope
Book Overview:
Billed as a satire concerning the dishonest advertising and business practices of the day, it tells the tale of an upstart clothing business doomed from the get-go to utter failure. Its senior partner (the elderly Brown, who provides the investment) is far too timid for business. His son-in-law (Jones, who runs the store) is stealing from the till, and the junior partner, Robinson (who writes advertisements for the store) is so obsessed with the idea that advertising alone will drive the business, he uses up every last penny of the capital investment in a series of increasingly ludicrous ad campaigns and publicity stunts. Thrown into this mix are the two daughters of Brown, who are equally cold and calculating. The elder (married to Jones) is constantly trying to wring money out of the old man, and the younger, Maryanne, spends the entire novel playing off of two potential suitors, Robinson, or Brisket the butcher (one of Trollope's wonderful examples of ironic character naming). (above summary by Steve Forsyth, Texas) Nevertheless, Trollope shows considerable sympathy for the risks faced by small businessmen (and also notes the vulnerability of writers to over-ready critics); Robinson is to publish his experiences in the Cornhill Magazine, a prominent journal for over 100 years, in which many Victorians serialized novels (including this one). In the final chapter there is a surprising ennoblement of Robinson, and a very positive ending
Billed as a satire concerning the dishonest advertising and business practices of the day, it tells the tale of an upstart clothing business doomed from the get-go to utter failure. Its senior partner (the elderly Brown, who provides the investment) is far too timid for business. His son-in-law (Jones, who runs the store) is stealing from the till, and the junior partner, Robinson (who writes advertisements for the store) is so obsessed with the idea that advertising alone will drive the business, he uses up every last penny of the capital investment in a series of increasingly ludicrous ad campaigns and publicity stunts. Thrown into this mix are the two daughters of Brown, who are equally cold and calculating. The elder (married to Jones) is constantly trying to wring money out of the old man, and the younger, Maryanne, spends the entire novel playing off of two potential suitors, Robinson, or Brisket the butcher (one of Trollope's wonderful examples of ironic character naming). (above summary by Steve Forsyth, Texas) Nevertheless, Trollope shows considerable sympathy for the risks faced by small businessmen (and also notes the vulnerability of writers to over-ready critics); Robinson is to publish his experiences in the Cornhill Magazine, a prominent journal for over 100 years, in which many Victorians serialized novels (including this one). In the final chapter there is a surprising ennoblement of Robinson, and a very positive ending
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Mr. Robinson, however, admitted afterwards that he was wrong about the colour and the number. Such methods of obtaining attention were, he said, too easy of imitation, and devoid of any inherent attraction of their own. People would not care for nine times nine in Bishopsgate Street, if there were nine times nines in other streets as well. "No," said he; "I was but beginning, and made errors as beginners do. Outside there should be glass, gas, gold, and glare. Inside there should be the same, with plenty of brass, and if possible a little wit. If those won't do it, nothing will." All the same the magenta colour and the nin. . . Read More
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Community Reviews
Oh, Mr. Trollope, you should not have published this. I am not the first to have said this, and you know I am one of your biggest fans. Even you knew this didn't compare with your others. You published it anonymously. Probably no one was deceived. Who else would call the butcher "Mr. Brisket"? I lov
A great fun Anthony Trollope book - quite a different one, following the antics of a small haberdashery company.
Trollope's main satirical target in this novel is advertising. It's too heavy handed, particularly from a novelist whose satirical touch could be appealingly light. What saved this novel for me was the competition between Robinson and Brisket, the butcher, for the hand of Maryanne Brown, although th
One of Trollope’s shorter novels which could perhaps have been even shorter as the relationship triangle and the shop shenanigans got a little repetitive. Other than that it zipped along with narration by the advertising “genius” and frequent Shakespeare referencer Robinson providing satire and humo
First sentence: It will be observed by the literary and commercial world that, in this transaction, the name of the really responsible party does not show on the title-page. I — George Robinson — am that party.
Premise/plot: Brown, Jones, and Robinson may have failed miserably in their business ventu
I am not a longstanding Trollope devotee, but I enjoy my excursions into his urbane, mischievous and wickedly critical view of the world in combination with his - in my limited experience - unswerving advocacy of decency and kindness. I found this short novel secondhand in the market, knew nothing o
This was a wonderful read. Not at all typical Trollope, none of the usual authorial discursions, but very funny and some wonderful characterisations. I'd choose Maryanne and Brisket the butcher as probably the best, though the oily Jones and the sensible Poppins are a joy too. And as for the Goose C