The Custom of the CountryEdith Wharton's satiric anatomy of American society in the first decade of the twentieth century appeared in 1913; it both appalled and fascinated its first reviewers, and established her as a major novelist. The Saturday Review wrote that she had 'assembled as many detestable people as it is possible to pack between the covers of a six-hundred page novel', but concluded that the book was 'brilliantly written', and 'should be read as a parable'. It follows the career of Undine Spragg, recently arrived in New York from the Midwest and determined to conquer high society. Glamorous, selfish, mercenary, and manipulative, her principal assets are her striking beauty, her tenacity, and her father's money. With her sights set on an advantageous marriage, Undine pursues her schemes in a world of shifting values, where triumph is swiftly followed by disillusion. Wharton was re-creating an environment she knew intimately, and Undine's education for social success is chronicled in meticulous detail. The novel superbly captures the world of post-Civil War America, as ruthless in its social ambitions as in its business and politics. |
Contents
INTRODUCTION | 1 |
I | 5 |
II | 13 |
Ill | 21 |
Father youve got to take a box for me at the opera next Friday | 26 |
V | 37 |
VI | 45 |
VII | 50 |
XXIV | 195 |
XXV | 204 |
XXVI | 209 |
XXVII | 217 |
XXVIII | 222 |
XXIX | 227 |
XXX | 233 |
XXXI | 239 |
VIII | 57 |
IX | 63 |
X | 70 |
XI | 81 |
XII | 90 |
XIV | 108 |
XV | 117 |
XVI | 127 |
XVII | 135 |
XVIII | 142 |
XIX | 156 |
XX | 161 |
XXI | 173 |
XXII | 184 |
things and some one was moving about in a shadowy way between bed and window He was thirsty and some one gave him a drink His pillow burne... | 186 |
XXIII | 190 |
XXXIII | 249 |
XXXIV | 253 |
XXXV | 257 |
XXXVI | 265 |
XXXVII | 269 |
XXXVIII | 276 |
XXXIX | 284 |
XL | 291 |
XLI | 297 |
XLII | 303 |
XLIII | 308 |
XLIV | 313 |
XLV | 319 |
XLVI | 325 |
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Common terms and phrases
ain't amused answer Apex asked Avenue began better Binch Bowen chair course Dagonet daughter dine dinner divorce door drawing-room dress drew Driscoll Edith Wharton Elmer Moffatt Ethan Frome eyes face Fairford father feel felt friends gave girl glance guess hand Harry Lipscomb heard Heeny Heeny's House of Mirth husband Indiana Jim Driscoll Juliet Stevenson knew ladies laugh Laura lips look Madame de Trézac Marquise marriage married Marvell's masseuse mother murmured never Nouveau Luxe once Paris Paul Paul's Penguin Peter Van Degen Popple Popple's Princess Ralph Marvell Raymond de Chelles Rolliver round Roviano Saint Désert seemed sense Shallum silence smile social Spragg St Moritz stared stood suppose talk tell there's things thought told tone turned Undine Undine's Washington Square weeks what's wife woman wonder York young