The Custom of the Country
About this book
Edith Wharton's satiric anatomy of American society in the first decade of the twentieth century appeared in 1913; it both appalled and fascinated its first reviewers, and established her as a major novelist. It follows the career of Undine Spragg, recently arrived in New York from the Midwest and determined to conquer high society. Glamorous, selfish, mercenary, and manipulative, her principal assets are her striking beauty, her tenacity, and her father's money. With her sights set on an advantageous marriage, Undine pursues her schemes in a world of shifting values, where triumph is swiftly followed by disillusion. Wharton was re-creating an environment she knew intimately, and Undine's education for social success is chronicled in meticulous detail. The novel superbly captures the world of post-Civil War Ameria, as ruthless in its social ambitions as in its business and politics. - Back cover.
Reader Profile
4.1/5 · 17033 readers · 614 pages · ≈ 11 h 22 m · Challenging
How long does it take to read The Custom of the Country?
About ≈ 11 h 22 m — 614 pages, assuming roughly 250 words per page at 225 words per minute.
How many pages is The Custom of the Country?
614 pages in its most-read edition.
What genre is The Custom of the Country?
It sits on the Romance, Fiction shelves.
Is The Custom of the Country in the public domain?
Yes — it is free to read and share.
Where does The Custom of the Country take place?
It is set in New York (N.Y.), Paris (France), France.
Who wrote The Custom of the Country?
Edith Wharton.
Where can I read The Custom of the Country online for free?
It is in the public domain — read it free on Open Library