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One of Edith Wharton’s most acclaimed works, The Custom of the Country is a blistering indictment of materialism, power, and misplaced values. Its heroine, Undine Spragg, is one of the most ruthless characters in all of literature, as selfishly unscrupulous as she is fiercely beautiful. When her family acquires a small fortune, they leave America’s heartland and head east. As Undine climbs the social ladder through a series of marriages and affairs, she shows little concern for who she has to step on to get anything and everything she desires. Her rise to the top of New York’s elite society—before moving on to conquer Paris as well—provides a poignant and scathing commentary on the unquenchable ambitions of America’s nouveau riche.
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Summary
Summary
An Entertainment Weekly Pick for 12 Books to Ease Your Downton Abbey Withdrawl
New York Public Library Staff Pick in November 2007
One of Edith Wharton’s most acclaimed works, The Custom of the Country is a blistering indictment of materialism, power, and misplaced values. Its heroine, Undine Spragg, is one of the most ruthless characters in all of literature, as selfishly unscrupulous as she is fiercely beautiful. When her family acquires a small fortune, they leave America’s heartland and head east. As Undine climbs the social ladder through a series of marriages and affairs, she shows little concern for who she has to step on to get anything and everything she desires. Her rise to the top of New York’s elite society—before moving on to conquer Paris as well—provides a poignant and scathing commentary on the unquenchable ambitions of America’s nouveau riche.
Editorial Reviews
Editorial Reviews
Reviews
Reviews
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Becky Sharp could take a lesson
- Thackeray's infamous heroine is a peach compared to Undine Spragg (love how the name fits her so well). At least some of the seeds of Becky's nastiness could be found in her sad early years. Not so with Undine -- she's been indulged from birth by parents who haven't a clue what a monster they've nurtured. Undine is almost sociopathic in her disregard for everyone around her. But those around her aren't angels, either. All the supporting characters are nuanced and real, with both flaws and virtues. But the only blameless character is Undine's poor, neglected son. This book is a window into a world that no longer exists, and to some degree, good riddance! Yet it's a fascinating education. The only way this story could have been better is if Undine could have been shown "getting hers" in the end. The reader is excellent as well.
Author
Author Bio: Edith Wharton
Edith Wharton (1862–1937) was born in New York and is best known for her stories of life among the upper-class society into which she was born. She was educated privately at home and in Europe. In 1894 she began writing fiction, and her novel The House of Mirth established her as a leading writer. Her novels The Age of Innocence and Old New York were each awarded the Pulitzer Prize. She was the first woman to receive that honor. In 1929 she was awarded the American Academy of Arts and Letters Gold Medal for Fiction.
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Details
Details
| Available Formats : | Digital Download, Digital Rental, CD |
| Category: | Fiction/Classics |
| Runtime: | 14.48 |
| Audience: | Adult |
| Language: | English |
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