The Struggles of Brown, Jones and Robinson

"The Struggles of Brown, Jones and Robinson" (1861-2) is Trollope's satirical attack on abuses in advertising. Told by "One of the Firm", it is the tale of a foolhardy junior partner of an ill-fated haberdashery store. Formerly a bill-sticker, Robinson wishes to spend the firm's entire capital on advertising, to "broadcast through the metropolis on walls, omnibuses, railway stations, little books, pavement chalkings, illuminated notices, porters' backs, gilded cars, and men in armour". Although Robinson's devotion to inflated and dishonest advertising is the target of Trollope's satire, Robinson is none the less presented as an attractive and sympathetic character.