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The CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY
The CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY
Author: Edith Wharton, Cynthia Griffin Wolff
First published in 1913 and regarded by many critics as her most substantial novel, The Custom of the Country is Edith Wharton's powerful saga about the beautiful, ruthless Undine Spragg. A woman of extraordinary ambition and exuberant vitality, Undine is consigned by virtue of her sex to the shadow world of the drawing room and boudoir. ...  more »
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ISBN-13: 9780684825885
ISBN-10: 0684825880
Publication Date: 8/1/1997
Pages: 512
Rating:
  • Currently 4.3/5 Stars.
 4

4.3 stars, based on 4 ratings
Publisher: Scribner
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover, Audio Cassette
Members Wishing: 2
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eadieburke avatar reviewed The CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY on + 1615 more book reviews
Published in 1913, Edith Wharton's The Custom Of The Country is a scathing novel of ambition featuring Undine Spragg, beautiful but very materialistic. She is one of Wharton's most memberable characters. Her rise to the top of New York's high society provides a commentary on the aspirations that eventually caused her ruin. Her misplaced values of greed and power is as relevant today as when it was written over a century ago. I found the book to be well-written with unique characters and enjoyed the book very much. I look forward to reading more of Wharton's books. I would highly recommend this book to those who love to read about New York's high society.
reviewed The CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY on + 26 more book reviews
Must-read if you loved Age of Innocence!
reviewed The CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY on + 10 more book reviews
If I had 3 wishes, one would be to bring back Edith Wharton so that she could keep writing novels for me to read for the rest of my life.
The Custom of the Country was terrific, tragi-comic. It portrays a protagonist/antagonist that you love to hate. Beautiful Undine leaves a trail of heartbreak and destruction in her wake, and is totally oblivious to what she does.
Read it if you get the chance!


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