Martha Banta Knihy

Faced with an array of wealthy suitors, New York socialite Lily Bart falls in love with lawyer Lawrence Selden, whose lack of money spoils their chances for happiness together. Dubious business deals and accusations of liaisons with a married man diminish Lily's social status, and as she makes one bad choice after another, she learns how venal and brutally unforgiving the upper crust of New York can be. One of America's finest novels of manners, The House of Mirth is a beautifully written and ultimately tragic account of the human capacity for cruelty.

"When a handsome young man begins to court Catherine Sloper, she feels she is very lucky. She is quiet, gentle girl, but neither beautiful nor clever ; no one had ever admired her before, or come to the front parlour of her home in Washington Square to whisper soft words of love to her. But in New York in the 1840s young ladies are not free to marry where they please. Catherine must have her father's permission, and Dr Sloper is a rich man. One day Catherine will have a fortune of 30,000 dollars a year ..."--Publisher