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iwanttoreadallthebooks 's review for:
The House of Mirth
by Edith Wharton
The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton was considered shocking when it was published in 1905 and is now considered one of the classics. It tells the story of Lily Bart, a beautiful sophisticated woman, who has the misfortune of coming from a poor family. She is able to rise above her class and soon becomes acquainted with "old money". As she approaches thirty, she realizes that she must find a husband to maintain her expensive tastes and the life of luxury that she has become accustomed to. Through a series of bad choices and rumors started by those who she once considered friends, Lily slowly descends from life of privilege to being poor and forgotten.
I adore many of the classics and I loved the House of Mirth. Even though Edith Wharton came from an extremely wealthy family and lived a life of luxury, she was extremely brave in writing this book as it was (and is) a scathing commentary on the excesses and corruption of the aristocracy. Her attack on the upper classes is shown in how Lily goes from being the most beautiful and talked-about woman in society to being poor and completely forgotten by most of her former friends. While I know some readers don't like classics because they feel that they are no longer relevant to modern-day life, The House of Mirth touches on themes of class, women's role in society, and love and marriage, themes which are still very relevant to the world we live in today.
The House of Mirth is beautifully written and truly transported me to the time and place in which Lily lived. While Wharton was extremely descriptive and sometimes a bit verbose, I really enjoyed her character and plot development. The ending was especially powerful and haunting. Based on how excellent The House of Mirth is, I am not surprised that Edith Wharton would go on to become the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for literature and was nominated three times for the Nobel Prize. The House of Mirth was the perfect introduction to Wharton and her writing style and I can't wait to read her other works.
4.5 stars!!
I adore many of the classics and I loved the House of Mirth. Even though Edith Wharton came from an extremely wealthy family and lived a life of luxury, she was extremely brave in writing this book as it was (and is) a scathing commentary on the excesses and corruption of the aristocracy. Her attack on the upper classes is shown in how Lily goes from being the most beautiful and talked-about woman in society to being poor and completely forgotten by most of her former friends. While I know some readers don't like classics because they feel that they are no longer relevant to modern-day life, The House of Mirth touches on themes of class, women's role in society, and love and marriage, themes which are still very relevant to the world we live in today.
The House of Mirth is beautifully written and truly transported me to the time and place in which Lily lived. While Wharton was extremely descriptive and sometimes a bit verbose, I really enjoyed her character and plot development. The ending was especially powerful and haunting. Based on how excellent The House of Mirth is, I am not surprised that Edith Wharton would go on to become the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for literature and was nominated three times for the Nobel Prize. The House of Mirth was the perfect introduction to Wharton and her writing style and I can't wait to read her other works.
4.5 stars!!