The House of Mirth

Edith Wharton, 1905

Date read: 3/5/24

This novel reminded me a lot of An American Tragedy, which is contemporaneous.

Essentially, a young woman is beautiful and that's about it. Life throws her away because she's too poor to keep up with her expensive friends. (At one point she says, "I am poor. I am also expensive.")

Because she can't adjust to the horrible things that happen to her, she accidentally-on purpose overdoses on laudenum.

Overall I thought it was a very good novel. I read the whole thing in two days.

Length: 347 pages in hardcover compendium

Classic: yes