bonds
Harold Banner _009

My life
Andrew Bevel _149

Remembering the memoir
Aida Partenza _221

gift
Mildred Bevel _421

Acknowledgments _477
Translator's Note _479

The man who dominated Wall Street in the early 20th century
Four different stories about him

"Trust" is largely divided into four chapters, each telling the story of the same person in the form of a novel, autobiography, memoir, and diary.
The first chapter, "Bonds," which opens the work, is in the form of a novel written by a fictional author named Harold Banner.
The protagonist of 'Bonds' is Benjamin Rask, a descendant of a family that amassed great wealth through the tobacco trade. After his parents' death, he sells the tobacco business and uses his family's wealth and innate mathematical acumen to enter the world of finance.
The solitary and self-sufficient nature of speculation suited Benjamin perfectly, who preferred to spend his time alone, almost like a hermit, rather than socializing and going out to social gatherings.
In the world of finance, where he never touches a single dollar bill or has to interact with anyone or anything that could be affected by his transactions, he amassed enormous wealth, even making unethical choices such as manipulating stock prices or exploiting market crises for personal gain.
As he passes the midpoint of his life, he begins to vaguely consider marriage, and at this time, Helen, who comes from a prestigious but wealthy family, appears before him.


Helen, who spent her childhood wandering abroad, is someone who feels a sense of solitude and joy in being alone, and she finds her own solitude and freedom in Benjamin's solitude.
The couple enjoys a satisfying married life with a sense of intimacy that maintains a certain distance, and while Benjamin gains a reputation as a genius investor on Wall Street, Helen becomes a patron of the arts, inviting famous musicians of the time to her home and holding small concerts.
However, as the unprecedented Great Depression hit the United States in 1929, the shadow of tragedy began to fall over the couple's lives.

The second chapter, following 'Bonds', unfolds an unfinished autobiography titled 'My Life'.
Andrew Bevel, the real-life model for Benjamin Rask in "Bonds," speaks firsthand about his life, work, and marriage to his wife, Mildred.
Andrew Bevel writes this autobiography to refute rumors and fiction about his life, arguing that he achieved personal success while also contributing to the development of his nation, drawing on the teachings of his ancestors that "the good of the individual must be integrated with the good of the nation."
In this autobiography, which is littered with incomplete sentences, outlines, and instructions, Andrew's wife, Mildred, is portrayed as a delicate, homely woman with a love of art and flower arranging, and a delicate nature.
The third chapter, "Remembering the Memoir," is written by Aida Partenza, who recounts her experience as Andrew Bevel's secretary and autobiography writer in her younger days, and presents her perspective on the Bevels.
And in the fourth and final chapter, 'The Gift', a diary written by Mildred Bevel, a character who had been portrayed only through the eyes of others, appears, giving the reader a surprising twist.

A novel within a novel, an autobiography, a memoir, a diary.
Which story would you trust?

A novel about an early 20th-century Wall Street tycoon, an autobiography written by the model to refute the novel's content, a memoir by the author who ghostwrote the autobiography, and finally, the diary of Mildred Bevel, the wife who, in the three previous works, is always told from the perspective of others and never once has her own voice heard.
Hernán Díaz transforms one story into four different writing styles, perfectly capturing the style and atmosphere of each story.
The novel "Bonds" feels like a classic from the last century by Edith Wharton or Fitzgerald, and the unfinished autobiography seems to vividly convey the confident voice of a man who knows exactly how much wealth and power he possesses.


But the true brilliance of this work lies in the way its four intricately constructed texts influence one another to form a seamless yet powerful narrative.
Naturally, the story changes slightly depending on who is narrating it, and none of the four stories provides an overall picture, so the reader cannot trust the previous narrator as one story ends and another begins.
You read the novel as if you were putting together a puzzle, constantly guessing what the 'real' story is and whose story you should believe.
And when the story, which has been built up step by step, finally reveals the truth, the reader feels the emotional fulfillment and catharsis that great literature provides.

“The only thing that is certain in this work is the excellence of the author Diaz,
And that's the value of this book, a must-read." _The Washington Post

Just as the title 'Trust' implies not only the values ​​of trust and faith but also the economic concept of corporate partnership, this novel also explores 'trust' in various fields.
Amidst the sharp conflict between texts telling different stories, it raises the fundamental question of which narrative to believe. Through the married life of Andrew and Mildred Bevel, it tells the story of trust between a married couple and closely examines the role of trust and betrayal in human history as a whole.

Meanwhile, the author unfolds a story about 'money' as an omnipotent entity that dominates our lives, but at the same time, as an unrealistic and fictional entity.
Based on thorough research, this book realistically portrays the stock market and financial world of the early 20th century, delving into the characteristics and abstract structure of financial capital, represented by Wall Street, and exposing the illusion of the myth of wealth and power.
And it talks about timeless, yet still pressing and important issues, such as capitalism, finance, power, and class.


In the novel, Andrew Bevel tells Ida Partenza, who is ghostwriting his autobiography:
“My job is to get the right answer.
always.
If I make even the slightest mistake, I will use all means and resources to make sure that my mistake is no longer a mistake.
“I adjust reality and bend it to fit my mistakes.”

Through "Trust," author Hernán Díaz seems to be asking the reader this question:
In a reality where people with money and power manipulate and bend, whose story would you trust?
After reading the last sentence of the novel, the reader will want to go back to the first page and ponder that question.
And you will read the four articles again with a completely new perspective.
Revisiting the unique yet sophisticated format, the insightful perspective that confronts issues that permeate past and present, the exquisite layers and beautiful prose, and the enchanting story full of surprises.

▶ Recommendation

Sophisticated, complex, and consistently surprising.
The joy of this novel comes from its unpredictability, from the surprises that come with each chapter.
A fascinating and intelligent novel.
_The New York Times

What is certain in this work is only the excellence of the author Diaz and the value of this book as a must-read.
An elegant and seductive puzzle, this novel doesn't simply tell the story of how history and biographies are written; it reveals the process itself.
By the end, the only narrator the reader can trust is Dias.
_The Washington Post

It is a historical novel with an original composition and postmodern elements.
In other words, the reader cannot completely believe anything in the story he is reading.
_NPR

Dias weaves together a number of disparate threads to show how our changing perception of story is linked to wealth's ability to "bend and manipulate reality."
_The New Yorker

Through perfectly written sentences and a deft exploration of certainty, Trust paints a compelling portrait of New York in a century of change.
A novel that is a testament to Diaz's experience as a writer.
_Guardian

It's a brilliant achievement in its own right, while sharply deconstructing capitalism, class, greed, and the meaning of money.
A novel full of surprises, ecstasy, and timely.
Meticulous research, a compelling narrative, and the author's unique and masterful way of telling the story create a novel that will remain in your memory for a long time.
_Vogue