The House of Mirth cover art

The House of Mirth

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About this listen

Lily Bart, a beautiful, intelligent, but penniless young woman, lives on the outskirts of New York's high society, craving the luxurious lifestyle of her wealthy contacts. But while Lily possesses the grace, taste, and morality of the ideal turn-of-the-century lady, her delicate innocence threatens her survival in that very world. As she fights to maintain her newfound place among the aristocracy, Lily struggles mightily against what lurks beneath all the glitter and gold - greed, vulgarity, and ruthless competition. In her brilliantly perceptive novel, The House of Mirth, Edith Wharton, the peerless, Pulitzer Prize-winning chronicler of Old New York, provides yet another heartbreaking glimpse into the world of manners, privilege, betrayal, and shocking falls from grace.

Public Domain (P)1999 Recorded Books Classics Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Literary Fiction

Critic reviews

"The House of Mirth is uniquely authentic among American novels of manners." (Louis Auchincloss)
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Dip into the book and below the title, and you find the painted smile of the classic clown whose tragedy is unstoppable.
I find myself returning to The House of Mirth almost as often as I go back to Pride & Prejudice. Both Wharton and Austen build their characters so well, one grows to know the fictional creations intimately.
Don't allow the customs or costumes deter as you enter the world of Miss Lily Bart of New York as she graces the fashion and tussles with the mores and challenges of early twentieth century America.



A Timeless Classic

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