# Lord Alfred Grendall — The Way We Live Now character guide

> Lord Alfred Grendall in The Way We Live Now by Anthony Trollope.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Lord Alfred, Alfred, old Grendall

**First appearance:** 0002-iii-the-beargarden

## Snapshot

An impoverished nobleman living on credit and Melmotte's favour, one of the many well-born men who trade their names for a share in dubious speculations.

## Who they are

Lord Alfred is the father of Miles and a fixture of the Beargarden set, a man whose title survives his fortune and whose perennial income depends on buying and selling what he does not own. He is one of hundreds admitted into Melmotte's good things, a small shareholder in the great man's schemes and a small ornament of his drawing-room. His presence shows how readily the aristocracy mortgages itself to new money, and how the line between gentleman and parasite thins under financial pressure.

## In the story

### [Madame Melmotte's Ball](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/iv-madame-melmotte-s-ball)

Follows Melmotte for champagne, resenting him; his family has growing intimacy with the Melmottes.

### [The Great Railway to Vera Cruz](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/ix-the-great-railway-to-vera-cruz)

Listed as a director of the new railway company.

### [Lord Nidderdale’s Morality](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xxii-lord-nidderdale-s-morality)

Mentioned as having sold shares and profited, seen by the young men as Melmotte's 'head valet' and unfairly favored.

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

Whispers to Melmotte about how to become a baronet through money and political connections.

### [XL: “Unanimity Is the Very Soul of These Things.”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xl-unanimity-is-the-very-soul-of-these-things)

Mentioned by Melmotte as a director who sees further than Paul credits.

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

Overwhelmed by electioneering duties for Melmotte, complains to his son about the workload and worries about Melmotte's stability.

### [The India Office](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/liv-the-india-office)

Lord Alfred accompanies Melmotte in his carriage and at events, but is nauseated by his behavior. He tells Beauchamp Beauclerk that Melmotte cannot be made mild except with a horsewhip, and is considering buying a cutting whip out of frustration.

### [Father Barham Visits London](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/lvi-father-barham-visits-london)

Present with Melmotte, tries to manage the seating arrangements and dismisses Barham as a lunatic.

### [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)

Accompanies Melmotte and dismisses the priest's visit as madness.

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

Melmotte's reluctant ally, evasive and surly when questioned about the absentees, anxious to avoid attention.

### [The Party](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/lxii-the-party)

Leaves early, deserting Melmotte, which stings the host with ingratitude.

### [Mr. Melmotte on the Day of the Election](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/lxiii-mr-melmotte-on-the-day-of-the-election)

Mentioned as having been with Melmotte late at night in the study.

### [Hamilton K. Fisker Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xcii-hamilton-k-fisker-again)

Proudly ignores Fisker's summons but advises his son to go to London.

## Links

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