Trollope's version of his life story is notable for its candor and objectivity, and for its revelations of the details of a forbidden topic in proper Victorian society: money. He confesses that he earned, to date, a total of ?58, 959. 17s. 5 d and gives a detailed accounting of his earnings for each book. (The other forbidden topic--sex--is, however, not covered.) He writes with amazing straightforwardness, making no effort to impress his audience with his achievements; he is, in fact, almost unfailingly modest in his evaluations of his books. The AUTOBIOGRAPHY, with its insights into the affairs of a successful literary man, is one of Trollope's most unusual documents, and one of his most enduring.