The House of Mirth: With Edith Wharton's 'Introduction to the 1936 Edition' (Aziloth Books)

The House of Mirth follows the career and final downfall of Lily Bart a society beauty in turn-of-the-century New York whose financial security stands on very shaky ground. In a culture where money measures everything and morals are worn like fashionable garments for appearances only an essentially honest Lily is torn between offers of a loveless financially secure marriage and one of love and relative poverty with the man she adores. By turns naïve worldly and reckless her vacillating nature pulls her first in one direction then the other in a downward spiral towards eventual tragedy. Edith Wharton was born into the same social milieu she so successfully satirised in her novels and The House of Mirths scathing and perceptive view of New Yorks financial elite did not make her any friends among the American beau monde. Following the books publication (and its tremendous literary success) Wharton left the United States permanently and spent the rest of her days in Europe.