A dazzling exploration of social currency, love, and hypocrisy among the Gilded Age's upper crust, The House of Mirth is a classic novel that remains essential reading. Beautiful Lily Bart is a young New York socialite who enjoys everything that high society in the late 19th century has to offer. She receives plenty of interest from men, but has not yet felt compelled to marry. Although her strictly traditional Aunt Julia provides Lily with a fashionable address and other luxuries, her future livelihood is at risk if she ...
Read More
A dazzling exploration of social currency, love, and hypocrisy among the Gilded Age's upper crust, The House of Mirth is a classic novel that remains essential reading. Beautiful Lily Bart is a young New York socialite who enjoys everything that high society in the late 19th century has to offer. She receives plenty of interest from men, but has not yet felt compelled to marry. Although her strictly traditional Aunt Julia provides Lily with a fashionable address and other luxuries, her future livelihood is at risk if she does not commit to a wealthy man. At twenty-nine, Lily is nearing an age when her options may begin to run out. Fortunately, she is not without opportunity, as she has caught the attention of a rich bachelor named Percy Gryce. She has also attracted Lawrence Selden, a man she genuinely likes but discounts due to his limited means. With her penchant for gambling and a desire for true love without sacrifice, Lily soon finds herself outside of society's rules and tangled up in scandal. Wharton presents us with a tremendous novel of social realism that is rich in dramatic irony. It is as much an indictment of vicious double standards as it is a tragedy of self-delusion. For as hard as Lily tries to navigate the social snubs, malicious rumors and freewheeling sexuality of her peers, all her efforts to secure her own future grow increasingly out of reach. Originally published in 1905, The House of Mirth is still as engaging and relevant as when it was first introduced. The Mint Editions version of this classic book features expressive cover art and contemporary typesetting, making it a fine addition to any bookshelf.
Read Less
Add this copy of The House of Mirth to cart. $15.10, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Atlanta rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Brownstown, MI, UNITED STATES, published 2021 by Mint Editions.
Add this copy of The House of Mirth to cart. $17.67, new condition, Sold by GreatBookPrices rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Columbia, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2021 by Mint Editions.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
New. Sewn binding. Paper over boards. 322 p. Mint Editions (Women Writers). In Stock. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition, allow 4-14 business days for standard shipping. To Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. protectorate, P.O. box, and APO/FPO addresses allow 4-28 business days for Standard shipping. No expedited shipping. All orders placed with expedited shipping will be cancelled. Over 3, 000, 000 happy customers.
Add this copy of The House of Mirth to cart. $17.68, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 2021 by Mint Editions.
Add this copy of The House of Mirth to cart. $17.85, like new condition, Sold by GreatBookPrices rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Columbia, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2021 by Mint Editions.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Fine. Sewn binding. Paper over boards. 322 p. Mint Editions (Women Writers). In Stock. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition, allow 4-14 business days for standard shipping. To Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. protectorate, P.O. box, and APO/FPO addresses allow 4-28 business days for Standard shipping. No expedited shipping. All orders placed with expedited shipping will be cancelled. Over 3, 000, 000 happy customers.
Add this copy of The House of Mirth (Hardback Or Cased Book) to cart. $19.23, new condition, Sold by BargainBookStores rated 3.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Grand Rapids, MI, UNITED STATES, published 2021 by Mint Editions.
Add this copy of The House of Mirth to cart. $22.36, new condition, Sold by Paperbackshop rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Bensenville, IL, UNITED STATES, published 2021 by Mint Editions.
Loved the outlay. Was very fascinating. Light and fun.
Jigglyman
Aug 1, 2008
Wonderful and tragic to a point
The House of Mirth is about the tragic fall from grace of a beautiful New York socialite, Lily Bart. The story chronicles her desperate search for a husband as society gradually rejects her. Edith Wharton writes a very revealing, critical study of high-class society in the Gilded Age that is fascinating in part because it is at once unfamiliar and very similar to modern-day society. Her characters are well-crafted, she writes very well, and the subject matter is very interesting, if not at some points a bit dry and superficial.
According to Aristotle, tragedy is about making "fatal choices," and it is Wharton's exploitation of this idea that makes the book falter. Lily Bart makes so many fatal choices it's hard not to choke on them. It seems like every page, she makes a choice that is obviously (to the reader) a bad idea. No woman can possibly be this daft so often. Her character is only falling from grace because Wharton so desperately wants her to. (Oh, and she never LEARNS!) The shoddy character development brings this book down to 4/5 stars.