Ralph the Heir (The ^AWorld's Classics)

Published in 1871, this novel tells a tale of crossed inheritance in which one Ralph Newton, a handsome ne'er-do-well, fully expects to inherit his family fortune, while his deserving cousin (also Ralph Newton), a bastard in the eyes of the law, cannot legally inherit what his father wishes to bequeath to him. Featuring the darker hues and confident social criticism of Trollope's maturity, this work presents a stunning portrait of the Victorian legal scene.