Reviews for The House of Mirth

The average rating for The House of Mirth based on 2 reviews is 4.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2019-07-11 00:00:00 Deborah Guthrie [Her reputation goes downhill when first she's seen coming out of an unmarried man's house where she went for tea not knowing the maid wasn't in. Then she makes the mistake of asking a friend's husband to 'invest' $300 for her in the stock market. He magically turns it into $10,000 - basically giving her the money and then he spreads the story when he drinks. He tries to use this to pressure her into a relationship, tricking her into coming to his home when his wife is not here. She's seen coming out of the house. Then she is deliberately and falsely accused of having an affair with another husband by a supposedly good friend who invites her on a yacht cruise to the Riviera. The woman did this just so she could cover her own infidelities to her husband. Lily falls in love with one of the men and he's in love with her but her reputation scares him off. She becomes addicted to a powerful sleeping drug. (hide spoiler)]

Review # 2 was written on 2014-02-24 00:00:00 Michael Russell Poor, lovely Lily Bart Her tragic story will break your heart She runs in the best circles Wears the right clothes And flirts with rich men But everyone knows That she needs to marry Someone - and fast! At 29 her looks won't last She's ringing up debts Borrowing from men And displeasing their wives Not to mention her friend Lawrence Selden, a lawyer (but not very rich) It's Gilded Age New York And life's a bitch If you're not "old money" Like the Trenors, Dorsets And that odd Percy Gryce The most you can do is play very nice Like Sam Rosedale, the Brys The Gormers and such, Who buy their way in (i.e., never go "dutch") Just remember: this clique Who summer in Newport and vacate in France Can shut you out of the social dance Which brings me back to Lily Bart Who's clearly not as smart as she seems Stepping right into a terrible scheme And refusing to clear her name Or go along with the game Even though, in the end, it causes her shame Does she have a choice? A tragic flaw? Or is her inaction the point of it all? Is her refusal to play her hand A critique of women's roles In a world ruled by Man? And what of that ending That seems out of place? I won't give a spoiler (that'd be a disgrace) But melodrama and tears crop up near the end When Lily appears To want for a friend Her author, Ms. Wharton, knew this world well It looked like heaven But was nasty as hell It's a fine portrait of Old New York But please don't forget another great work An even better one, written Some 16 years hence Full of wisdom, passion, sensibility and sense The title? You guessed it: The Age Of Innocence