What Will He Do with It? — Volume 08

About this book

"What Will He Do with It? — Volume 08" by Baron Edward Bulwer Lytton is a novel likely written in the mid-19th century. The narrative centers around the character Guy Darrell, a once-successful lawyer and orator, who grapples with feelings of despair and the legacy he will leave behind as he retreats into solitude after a failed attempt at reintegration into society. The book delves into themes of ambition, mortality, and the struggle between public acclaim and lasting significance. The opening of the book establishes Guy Darrell's melancholic state as he reflects on his past achievements and the futility of seeking fame without leaving a meaningful impact on posterity. He is portrayed as a man of genius, burdened by the societal roles he has not fulfilled and the realization that his life's work would fade into obscurity without any offspring or written legacy to remember him by. This leads him to ponder the possibility of becoming a writer, although he doubts his ability to transition from orator to author. As the story progresses, Darrell's thoughts turn from despair to the possibility of honoring his father’s legacy through art collection and introspection, with glimpses of other characters like Fairthorn, who injects moments of lightness into Darrell's solitary existence. This combination of serious introspection and light-hearted companionship sets the stage for deeper explorations of the human condition and the connections we forge.