# Georgiana Longestaffe — The Way We Live Now character guide

> Georgiana Longestaffe in The Way We Live Now by Anthony Trollope.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Georgiana, Miss Longestaffe, Miss Georgiana

**First appearance:** 0012-xiii-the-longestaffes

## Snapshot

A proud, marriage-minded daughter of the Longestaffe family, waiting year after year for a husband of the proper sort.

## Who they are

Georgiana Longestaffe has endured tedium for years on the promise of eventual relief, but to be kept at Caversham all summer is as bad as hearing a bishop preach forever. When her father's finances force the family to give up the London house, she finds herself considering Mr. Brehgert, a Jewish merchant, and discovers that her father would rather turn her out than consent. Her struggle between pride, desperation, and independence exposes the marriage market's cruelty.

## In the story

### [XIII: The Longestaffes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xiii-the-longestaffes)

Protests against the Melmottes coming to Caversham, showing her sharp tongue and desire for a more fashionable life.

### [Marie Melmotte Hears a Love Tale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xvii-marie-melmotte-hears-a-love-tale)

Leaves Felix and Marie alone in the garden, understanding the romantic stakes and willing to undermine Lord Nidderdale.

### [Everybody Goes to Them](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xxi-everybody-goes-to-them)

Georgiana reluctantly decides to stay with the Melmottes in London, expressing her disgust but feeling she has no other chance to secure a marriage.

### [Yes;—I'm a Baronet.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xxiii-yes-i-m-a-baronet)

Flirts with Lord Nidderdale in the drawing-room, indifferent to the hostess or Marie.

### [In Grosvenor Square](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xxv-in-grosvenor-square)

Feels humiliated and degraded after moving in with the Melmottes; her brother Dolly confronts her.

### [Lady Monogram](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xxxii-lady-monogram)

Staying with the Melmottes, she suffers social humiliation and writes to Lady Monogram to restore their friendship.

### [The Coming Election](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xliv-the-coming-election)

Arranges to stay with Lady Monogram in exchange for two tickets to Madame Melmotte's reception, a transaction that underscores social bargaining.

### [Lord Nidderdale Tries His Hand Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/lvii-lord-nidderdale-tries-his-hand-again)

Present at lunch but soon departs to meet Lady Monogram.

### [Miss Longestaffe's Lover](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/lx-miss-longestaffe-s-lover)

Has accepted Mr. Brehgert's proposal but fears telling her parents; bargains with Lady Monogram over Melmotte tickets and social support.

### [Lady Monogram Prepares for the Party](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/lxi-lady-monogram-prepares-for-the-party)

A guest of the Monograms, she resents the insinuations against the Melmottes and is concerned about her own position.

### [Miss Longestaffe Writes Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/lxv-miss-longestaffe-writes-home)

Writes home to her mother about her engagement, but is humiliated by Lady Monogram and then forbidden by her father to marry Mr. Brehgert.

### [Miss Longestaffe Again at Caversham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/lxxviii-miss-longestaffe-again-at-caversham)

Returns to Caversham after her father forbids her marriage to Mr. Brehgert; faces family ostracism and struggles with her uncertain future.

### [The Brehgert Correspondence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/lxxix-the-brehgert-correspondence)

Receives and responds to Mr. Brehgert's letter, torn between the shame of a broken engagement and the loss of a London house.

### [The Longestaffe Marriages](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xcv-the-longestaffe-marriages)

Wretched and humiliated by her sister's marriage, she quarrels with her family, threatens to resume the Brehgert alliance, and ultimately elopes with Mr. Batherbolt.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/characters/georgiana_longestaffe
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/characters