Edith Wharton - The House of Mirth/The Custom of the Country/The Age of Innocence

by Stuart Hutchinson

Edith Wharton's three New York novels are central to her reputation as a major woman novelist. In them, she recorded the mannered traditional world of her upbringing, and traced its inevitable decline as the American twentieth century began. The novels deal with a transitional period in which all values are questioned, and share as a continuing theme the question of how women and men should relate. Consumerism may be all they have to sustain them - a consoling world has been lost and little gained in return. If not nostalgia, then reflexive satire may be Wharton's only resource.

In this Readers' Guide, Stuart Hutchinson analyses the most significant writings on The House of Mirth (1905), The Custom of the Country (1913) and The Age of Innocence (1920). Beginning with Wharton's own comments on the novels, he moves on to the contemporary responses of Henry James and challenging reviews such as Katherine Mansfield's, before turning to stimulating critical writing from later perspectives. Geoffrey Walton, Blake Nevius and R. W. B. Lewis feature among others, followed by feminist insights from Cynthia Griffin Wolff, Elizabeth Ammons and Elaine Showalter. This Guide is an essential resource for understanding the changing responses to Wharton's work.

157 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2002

Reviews

[Mike Van Helden · Rating 2 out of 5]

I finished this a few weeks ago and originally did not want to write a review. Nonetheless, the extraordinary structure of the book made me do so. It is unlike other academic reviews I have read so far; in my opinion it is too opinionated and feels not really academic. I could use the quoted/incorporated articles (which were really usefull) nonetheless Hutchinson's commentary is sometimes really weird.

[Nora Botero · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best classics I have read: the characters, descriptions of the social life, the interactions of accepted SOCIETY and the NON ACCEPTED. Perfect reflection of high society in the beginnings of the 20th century.A great book!

[Peter Taylor-Gooby · Rating 5 out of 5]

A clear-eyed, historical analysis,

[Anjar · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The flower of life.
When you lose your flower of life, you'll live but not really live."

I haven't read The Custom of the Country, but I have read the other two, The House of Mirth and The Age of Innocence. In those two novels, Wharton portrays the American upper middle society in late 19th century, the old and new rich people, how the value of morals and norms set in that society actually bring pretense and unhappiness. It's an American tragedy.

The Age of Innocence was made into a movie where Winona Ryder, Daniel Day Lewis, and Michelle Pfeiffer play the interesting characters so well.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, this book was incredibly S L O W for my taste and also incredibly shallow, really. Can't give away the ending, but the plot... hmmm... not so much. Basically the story of Lily Bart who wants to marry, and marry money only. That's her only goal in NY society is money. And as you can guess, it doesn't bring her happiness. I can say I've read another of the classics. Time to move on.