The Custom of the Country Edith Wharton 9781519171351 Books
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Considered by many to be her masterpiece, Edith Wharton's second full-length work is a scathing yet personal examination of the exploits and follies of the modern upper class. As she unfolds the story of Undine Spragg, from New York to Europe, Wharton affords us a detailed glimpse of what might be called the interior décor of this America and its nouveau riche fringes. Through a heroine who is as vain, spoiled, and selfish as she is irresistibly fascinating, and through a most intricate and satisfying plot that follows Undine's marriages and affairs, she conveys a vision of social behavior that is both supremely informed and supremely disenchanted.
The Custom of the Country Edith Wharton 9781519171351 Books
This is Edith Wharton's real masterpiece. Before reading this novel recently (I'd hardly heard of it before), I'd read her much more famous "Age of Innocence" and "House of Mirth." I thought they were okay -- beautiful descriptive passages, brilliant flashes of psychological and political insight, but with boring characters and lame story lines. "The Custom of the Country" has all the fine qualities you expect to find in a good Wharton novel, but with an absolutely amazing protagonist -- Undine. "The Custom of the Country" is "Vanity Fair," with its much paler Becky Sharp, squared. This is what Thackeray would have written if he'd had a much keener and colder eye -- and a blacker sense of humor. This is now in my novelistic top ten -- along with (if you want to know some other books I like before taking my advice and buying/reading this): "Moby-Dick," "The Man Without Qualities," "Blood Meridian," "Remembrance of Things Past," and Burroughs' last major novel "The Western Lands."Product details
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The Custom of the Country Edith Wharton 9781519171351 Books Reviews
In The Custom of the Country Edith Wharton uses biting satire to create one of the most callous self indolent characters ever construed onto paper. But it is the subtle brilliance of Ms. Wharton's writing that captures the epitome of the aristocratic hierarchy of the early 20th century and follows its main attraction that is Ms. Undine Spragg as she aims to climb the social ladder of monetary pursuits by any means and will not stop as long as her mirror reflects her commented beauty and youth, that is what makes this a rediscovered gem of a classic. Told in a watcher in the window style the reader is given a full length view of character's inner most thoughts and desires. Although on the surface The Custom of the Country may seem a dated work that centers on a selfish young woman who destroys lives of everyone she comes in contact with, the patient reader may discover multifaceted passages in this title. Not only does Ms. Wharton capture and effectively fashion rancor toward her monetary endowed characters but she also seizes complicated behaviors and "customs" of marriage, other social classes and nationalities that may lead to some entertaining debates for any interested book discussion group to pass the time with.
A little patience is asked of the reader who decides to explore this sometimes overlooked classic, Ms. Wharton writes in the flourishing descriptive style and the contemporary reader may find too much is asked of them and stop reading within a few chapters but please don't. Stay with this one, you may end up really loving The Custom of the Country like I did. I find these kinds of titles pull me in if I let them and just enjoy the experience, although I enjoyed The House of Mirth a little more than The Custom of the Country I would still recommend this title for those who would like to find a forgotten classic about the magnetic aristocratic world of the early 20th century.
This is certainly one of Wharton's great works. It depicts Undine, a Midwestern social climber who moves to New York, with the intention of making her mark on society. She marries Ralph from an upper crust background, but her narcissism and materialism doom the marriage. Undine Spragg has no interest in her husband, just in his admiration of her beauty. She is totally indifferent to her child. And so it is with everyone she touches. Her female friends are collected to help her entry into society - and before you know it, she is conquering Paris and becoming a Countess, then a Marquise, even better. When the Marquis realizes her character, centered on the voracious collecting of gowns, furnishings, and furbellows - he is alienated from her and shifts his attention to cultivating his estate. And so it goes, from one man to another. An Elmer Moffat keeps popping into her life. He is the one man she cannot deceive and who sees through her machinations, for he is as vulgar and grasping as she is.
Nonetheless, Undine was to me a Carmen - a creature with a sociopathic craving to ruin men, and extracting as much money as she can from them to finance her enjoyments. It is only her beauty that attracts. My revulsion at her decadent character prevented me from giving this cleverly written book five stars. I wonder how many Undines are currently plotting how to land a socially advantageous husband in New York.
This was my first Edith Wharton book, and the lady certainly could write. This is somewhat of a saga and follows the social climbing exploits of an excessively spoiled young woman, Undine Spragg, who, for reasons unexplained, believes everyone owes her everything and anything she wants. She begins by making constant demands on her mother and father, eventually nearly ruining them financially. She marries and destroys the life of a naïve but accommodating young man with social standing she desires. She marries again and again in her quest for great wealth and position, disappointed in some way each time. Nothing is ever enough for Undie. She leaves upheaval and destruction in her wake throughout the book.
Wharton's writing is elegant perfection, but I was happy to have read this on my - where I was frequently checking vocabulary definitions. Otherwise I might have needed a dictionary on my lap as well as the book. I felt some of this was overdone to an extreme, but an author can't alter their 'voice'. If she wants to use obscure words, she certainly may. Perhaps I retained a few in my more normal brain.
Although an ambitious work and beautifully written, none of the characters were likeable. Undie's first husband, Ralph, was appealing, but, when negotiating their divorce and custody of their son, he does something beyond stupid just when he has information which could destroy her.
I've been told all of Edith Wharton's novels involve the social strata of turn-of-the-century New York City. While I love the era, I think it will be a while before I endeavor to pick up my second one. However, if you enjoy gorgeous writing, you should read this one.
This is Edith Wharton's real masterpiece. Before reading this novel recently (I'd hardly heard of it before), I'd read her much more famous "Age of Innocence" and "House of Mirth." I thought they were okay -- beautiful descriptive passages, brilliant flashes of psychological and political insight, but with boring characters and lame story lines. "The Custom of the Country" has all the fine qualities you expect to find in a good Wharton novel, but with an absolutely amazing protagonist -- Undine. "The Custom of the Country" is "Vanity Fair," with its much paler Becky Sharp, squared. This is what Thackeray would have written if he'd had a much keener and colder eye -- and a blacker sense of humor. This is now in my novelistic top ten -- along with (if you want to know some other books I like before taking my advice and buying/reading this) "Moby-Dick," "The Man Without Qualities," "Blood Meridian," "Remembrance of Things Past," and Burroughs' last major novel "The Western Lands."
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