In 'Ralph the Heir', Anthony Trollope weaves a tale of a corrupt Parliamentary election based on his own experiences as a candidate. Ralph Newton is the spendthrift nephew of Squire Gregory Newton, who has an illegitimate son he loves dearly but cannot leave his estate to. In debt, Ralph must choose between raising money on his future interest in the estate or marrying a lower-class woman, both risky choices. Despite Trollope's negative assessment of his own work, readers have found 'Ralph the Heir' noteworthy for its portrayal of 19th-century society and politics.