Greed and Inheritance

Greed and Inheritance appears as a literary theme in 6 works in the BetterReads curated set. Each book develops the idea in its own plot, voice, and historical moment — the links below open the book-scoped theme guide beside the text.

The Danton millions and the Lakeside property are central to the story, with characters like Digby Groat scheming to inherit wealth through fraud, manipulation, and even kidnapping, highlighting the corrupting influence of money.

The plot revolves around the inheritance of Sir Vernon Brooklyn's fortune, with Walter Brooklyn and others having strong financial motives for the murders, and the narrative repeatedly examines how greed drives characters to commit or suspect crimes.

The plot revolves around the vast Selford fortune, with characters like Havelock, Stalletti, and Cody conspiring to control the inheritance through murder, forgery, and imprisonment of the rightful heir.

Financial motives drive the plot, as Mrs. Inglethorp's fortune is the central object of desire, with characters like Alfred Inglethorp and John Cavendish positioned as beneficiaries, and the destruction of wills underscores the theme of monetary greed.

The central conflict revolves around the inheritance of Lady Dormer's fortune, driving characters like Robert Fentiman to commit fraud and others to manipulate the timing of deaths, highlighting how money corrupts family bonds and moral judgment.

The narrative centers on the heirs' anxious anticipation of Doctor Minoret's wealth, highlighting how material greed corrupts family bonds and drives conflict, as seen in the postmaster's covetousness and the scramble for property.