Trust by Hernan Diaz is a complex novel that explores themes of wealth, power, and narrative through a multifaceted structure. The story revolves around Andrew Bevel, a wealthy financier, and his wife Mildred, set against the backdrop of the 1929 stock market crash. The novel is divided into four sections, each offering different perspectives: a fictional biography, an unfinished autobiography, a memoir by Ida Partenza, and Mildred’s journal. Diaz examines the mutability of capital and narrative, questioning who controls wealth and how stories are told and believed. The concept of “fictional” money is used to explore the theme of trust by highlighting how wealth, though abstract and mutable, wields significant power and influences narratives. The novel examines how financial instruments like trusts and bonds require belief in their value, paralleling how personal stories demand trust from readers. Through characters like Andrew Bevel, who manipulates markets and narratives, Diaz illustrates the intertwining of capital and storytelling, questioning the reliability of both and revealing how wealth shapes perceptions and truths Trust plays a crucial role in the financial dealings of the characters, particularly in the manipulation and perception of wealth. Andrew Bevel, a financier, relies on trust to maintain his financial empire, manipulating markets and narratives to ensure continued success. The novel explores how trust is both a financial instrument and a personal bond, with characters like Bevel using it to control public perception and personal relationships. The idea of money as “fictional” underscores how trust is essential for its perceived value and exchange, reflecting the broader theme of narrative control and reliability. In the end, we have 4 versions of a story and only our gut to tell us whom to believe. Fascinating and manipulative, the author shook the ground that I stand upon.

I never like 5 stars, and 4.5 is probably more accurate, but this was a wonderfully and interestingly structured as well as well written novel. I am not sure I have read a better book in recent years, which is the highest praise I can give.

It took me a while to understand what was happening in this book. As the story (stories) unfolded, it just got more and more interesting to me. Great characters, beautiful writing, clever without being cloying. Highly recommended.

One of the best Feminist novels written by a man.

Glad I stumbled upon this story (these stories).

The 4 perspectives, each a separate medium (fictitious novel, incomplete autobiography, personal memoir, and diary) each build on, echo, and contradict each other until the (mostly) complete picture of the characters at the center of the story is revealed. It’s artfully done and enjoyable to read.

Trust was difficult for me to get into. I was confused by book within a book for a while. Once I got that cleared up -it went along quickly and held my interest. The characters came alive. I learned a lot about the life of the wealthy in the building of the US and it’s economy.

Firstly, note that there are many reviews calling out unfinished sections with authors notes. Hilariously these are part of the story, and over those readers heads. Anyway! The story starts slow, but is still wonderfully written, with a decent second half. Worth the read.

NOTE : all the one star reviews are incorrect about the author’s edits in the online edition. The second section is written to be an ACTUAL unfinished memoir. The notes are SUPPOSED to be there. A financier’s life told in 4 parts: a semi-autobiographical novella, an incomplete memoir, a first person story line split in past and present action and journal entries. It’s effortlessly written. Keenly observed in the sparest of lines.

This edition is filled with sections of the author’s notes instead of the story itself. Very disappointing for a book of this caliber!