The Custom of the Country

Edith Wharton

Publisher: DigiCat

Summary

In "The Custom of the Country," Edith Wharton explores the intricacies of American social stratification and the often-destructive pursuit of wealth and status. Set in the early 20th century, the novel follows the ambitious Undine Spragg, a young woman whose relentless quest for upward mobility leads her through a series of turbulent relationships and societal encounters. Wharton's incisive prose and keen observations are hallmarks of her literary style, blending realism with a satirical tone that critiques the materialism and moral vacuity of New York's elite. The narrative is deeply embedded in the historical context of the Gilded Age and the subsequent societal shifts, illuminating the tension between personal desires and social conventions. Edith Wharton, a pioneer among female authors in her time, drew upon her own experiences within upper-class society to craft this compelling narrative. Born into a wealthy New York family, Wharton was well-acquainted with the codes of propriety and the personal ambitions that fueled her characters. Her firsthand observations of both privilege and its discontents provide a rich backdrop for the novel, culminating in a profound examination of identity and aspiration. Readers seeking a critical yet engaging portrayal of societal norms will find "The Custom of the Country" an essential addition to their literary repertoire. Wharton's deft exploration of ambition, class, and gender resonates with contemporary themes, making this novel not only a compelling read but also a timeless reflection on the human condition.

Available since: 09/15/2022.

Print length: 345 pages.

Contemporary Fiction

Other books that might interest you

Tender Betrayal

Rosanne Bittner

Stolen kisses and secret reunions lead to a passion that civil war cannot sever in this glorious historical romance from the bestselling author of Caress.   Beautiful, proud Audra Brennan feels like a stranger in a foreign land when she comes north from Louisiana to study music. But when she savors her first forbidden taste of desire in the arms of handsome lawyer Lee Jeffreys, his caresses spark a flame within her that burns away the differences between rebel and Yankee, all objections silenced by the fierce beating of two wild hearts falling impetuously, impossibly in love.   Suddenly cannon fire shatters the country. Principled, impassioned, and committed to a nation united, Lee answers the call to fight against the Confederacy, while Audra hurries home to a plantation shadowed by the darkening cloud of war. But in the most terrible of circumstances, can either afford to surrender their heart?   “Power, passion, tragedy and triumph are Rosanne Bittner’s hallmarks. Again and again, she brings readers to tears.” —RT Book Reviews

Show book

Hogg

Samuel R. Delany

The narrator of Hogg is a Huck Finn–like youngster caught in society’s most sinister seams—but unlike Huck, he passes no moral judgments on the violence he takes part in . . .Hogg is the story of a man—a depraved trucker named Franklin Hargus, whom the people he works for call Hogg—and of the nameless boy who tells the story of three days of unspeakable sexual violence and devastation, which, together, they initiate in a small seaside American city in the middle of the last century. Hogg is a towering brute who makes his living as a rapist for hire. By the end of a series of vicious attacks, kidnappings, and mass murders, the reader will wonder who is more corrupt: the man or the boy.   Samuel R. Delany completed his first draft of Hogg within a day, if not within hours, of the 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York City and revised it over the next four years, though it was not released until 1995.

Show book