The Bonfire of the Vanities
1 hour ago
1 min read
Tom Wolfe, 1987
Date read: 9/22/26
Before I started reading it, I thought this novel was about the actual bonfire of the vanities, like in Florence in 1497. A priest convinced everyone to burn everything they owned that represented sin. Like jewelery, makeup, "romances".
It is not. It is about a very rich and powerful man who is reduced to a very poor and powerless man due to a bad decision.
It is also about how certain people will glom onto anything they think will help their personal agenda.
It ended sad; I had hoped Sherman would win in the end. I loved the writing style. I think Wolfe is a brilliant novelist.
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