# Lady Monogram — The Way We Live Now character guide

> Lady Monogram in The Way We Live Now by Anthony Trollope.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Georgiana, Dear Lady Monogram

**First appearance:** 0031-xxxii-lady-monogram

## Snapshot

A fashionable London hostess whose guest lists are her currency, and whose friendship with Lady Carbury is calibrated to the exact worth of the Carbury name.

## Who they are

Lady Monogram moves through the novel's drawing rooms as a barometer of who currently matters, dispensing and withholding invitations with the precision of a woman who knows that social capital is the only capital she has. Her friendship with Lady Carbury is real enough to be useful but conditional enough to sting, and she keeps one eye always on the Melmottes' astonishing rise. She matters because she shows how the novel's marriages, alliances, and humiliations are negotiated in ballrooms and at dinner tables long before they are settled in law.

## In the story

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

Former friend of Georgiana, now socially elevated; she responds coolly to Georgiana's plea.

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

Invites Georgiana Longestaffe for three days in return for tickets to the Melmottes' reception, demonstrating her social calculation.

### [The Dinner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/lix-the-dinner)

Present at the dinner, though not explicitly named in the excerpt; inferred from context of society guests.

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

Reluctant to introduce Mr. Brehgert socially; bargains with Georgiana over Melmotte tickets and chaperonage.

### [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)

Anxiously debates attending Melmotte's party after hearing rumors of his scandal; sends her husband to verify the presence of royalty.

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

Angry after the failed Melmotte party, she insults Georgiana about mixing social sets and later snubs Mr. Brehgert at her own gathering.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/characters/lady_monogram
- 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