Book Review: The Glimpses of the Moon

The Glimpses of the Moon by Edith Wharton

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This is one of my favorite books written by Edith Wharton. What happens when two charming and poverty stricken socialites who make their living by sponging (charmingly) off their rich friends fall in love? Susy and Nick Lansing decide to marry and live off their wedding gifts for a year--at which time they'll reassess their relationship and the problem of money--and what ensues is a complex and subtle morality play, at the center of which are questions like: what does one owe those from whom one borrows money and pleasure? At what point does accepting favors become immoral? And what if those you're begging favors from ask for favors in return that require moral compromise? What price is acceptable? More importantly, what do you do when you become better than the person who makes you a better person? A fascinating story of how relative morality is--and whether or not it changes, or SHOULD change, depending on how much money you have. As always, Wharton is a genius at depicting the dilemmas of her time, and while this lesser-known book is perhaps not as layered or complex as something like The Age of Innocence, it is an excellent and thought-provoking read.





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