The Custom of the CountryWith the publication of this controversial novel, Edith Wharton leveled her most biting critique at the limitations that her society placed upon the ambitious woman. "The Custom of the Country"--which Harold Bloom, among others, considers her strongest achievement--takes its name from Fletcher and Massinger's Jacobean play about a medieval custom in which the feudal lord had a right to use the body of any common woman in his domain, either for his own pleasure or for money by prostituting her on her wedding night. In Wharton's American revision, it is the woman herself who ruthlessly sells herself to whatever man she believes can provide her with the success she desires. Undine Spragg is a magnificent antiheroine, viciously and precisely rendered by the author. With photographs by Alvin Langdon Coburn and drawings by Charles Dana Gibson, this Collector's Edition evokes the atmosphere of nineteenth-century New York. It also brings us closer to the author herself, with letters in her hand and other archival traces of her life from the special collections of The New York Public Library. |
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ain't Alvin Langdon Coburn answer Apex asked Avenue began Binch Bowen Charles Dana Gibson course Dagonet daughter dine dinner divorce door drawing-room dress drew Driscoll Edith Edith Wharton Elmer Moffatt eyes face Fairford father feel felt friends gave girl glance guess hand Harry Lipscomb heard Heeny Heeny's Henry James husband Indiana Jim Driscoll knew ladies laugh Laura letter lips Lipscomb look Mabel Madame de Trézac marriage married Marvell's masseuse mother murmured never Nouveau Luxe once Paris Paul paused Peter Van Degen Popple Popple's Princess R. W. B. Lewis Ralph Marvell Raymond de Chelles Rolliver round Roviano Saint Désert seemed sense Shallum silence smile Spragg stared stood suppose talk tell there's things thought tion told tone turned Undine Undine's Washington Square Wharton wife woman York young