Product Description

The House of Mirth tells the story of Lily Bart, aged 29, beautiful, impoverished and in need of a rich husband to safeguard her place in the social elite, and to support her expensive habits - her clothes, her charities and her gambling. Unwilling to marry without both love and money, Lily becomes vulnerable to the kind of gossip and slander which attach to a girl who has been on the marriage market for too long. Wharton charts the course of Lily's life, providing, along the way, a wider picture of a society in transition, a rapidly changing New York where the old certainties of manners, morals and family have disappeared and the individual has become an expendable commodity. The House of Mirth was published in October 1905 to widespread critical acclaim. It became an instant best-seller and is regarded today as one of Edith Wharton's most accomplished and compelling social satires.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #12094 in Books
• Published on: 2002-02-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

About the Author
Edith Wharton (1862-1937) was born into a distinguished New York family. She not only lived as part of smart society, but it was one of her principal subjects. She was a prolific writer of novels, short stories and articles. She also produced a volume of poems and an adaptation for the theatre of her novel, The House of Mirth. Ethan Frome, which is considered her greatest tragic story, is, by contrast, about simple New England people.

Customer Reviews

Edith Wharton at her best
In 'House of Mirth', Wharton's prose, timing and deft touch are all much in evidence. What makes this an especially enjoyable work is its unpredictibility. Whilst 'The Age of Innocence' is perhaps Wharton's most famous novel, 'House of Mirth' is more complex (and less cliched, I feel) - and ultimately more satisfying in terms of plot and characterisation.

The novel follows the events surrounding Lily Bart, a society beauty in 19th century New York, who must marry money in order to secure a life of luxury. Lily's flawed character is marvellously fleshed-out - making her a very real heroine. A number of suitors present themselves, but Lily's inability to marry solely for money, the prejudices of New York Society and ultimately - Lily's tendency to play her cards badly - produces a thoroughly absorbing ending.

The film, by the way, does not do the novel justice.

Survive The Savage Society
Set in 1890's New York, we follow the life of Miss Lily Bart, a dazzling socialite, sharp-witted and beautiful as she whirls amongst the parties and events in the endless social calendar of the fashionable hierarchy. But fortune does not favour Lily; despite her much-admired beauty, she is an impoverished spinster who struggles to keep up with the tremendous expense of living the lifestyle of the exclusive rich set.

Lily's descent into poverty is terribly compelling to witness; scandal follows scandal, as Lily's circle of former acquaintance turns it back on her and leaves only a few caring true friends. Your heart sinks with every step down the social ladder for Lily, and the close of the novel is tragic and moving. Despite her flaws, you are still rooting for Lily to regain her rightful status in genteel society, and this is evidence enough that Edith Wharton was a masterful storyteller. I have yet to see the film of the novel, starring Gillian Anderson as Lily, but if it remains true to the novel, then it must be worth seeing.

A very sad love story
It is true that this book is about New York high society in the 19th century but for me it is about all, a very sad love story. Love it is here not enough to overcome the doom for two people who have been risen with almost oposite expectatios on what life must be about. Lily loves Selden truly but she is not capable to give up her expectatios on a rich marriage and life until she start to fall and realizes among other tings, the real worth of her so-called frieds. Her up-rising and education, the enjoyment of her expensive tastes made for her imposible to apreciate in time what love is offering her. So, she fails to love , and so does him, who, with all his virtues cannot love her whithout judging her. He loves who she could be, but no what she already is. A very lovable human being despite all her faults.