Discover books similar to "The Custom of the Country"
Edith Wharton
The Custom of the Country
4.03
"The Custom of the Country" by Edith Wharton is a powerful exploration of American society and the pursuit of wealth and status in the Gilded Age. The novel follows the life of Undine Spragg, a beautiful and ambitious woman from the Midwest who marries her way into the highest echelons of New York society. Undine is a complex and fascinating character, who is both a victim of and a participant in the materialistic and superficial world she inhabits. She is determined to achieve wealth and social position at any cost, and is willing to manipulate and discard those around her in order to achieve her goals. Wharton's prose is sharp and incisive, and she brilliantly captures the hypocrisy and artifice of the wealthy elite. The novel is also a critique of the American obsession with wealth and status, and the ways in which these pursuits can corrupt and dehumanize individuals. "The Custom of the Country" is a classic of American literature, and it continues to resonate with readers today due to its timeless themes and complex characters. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of American society, as well as for those who enjoy well-crafted and thought-provoking fiction. Overall, "The Custom of the Country" is a powerful and insightful novel that offers a fascinating look at American society in the Gilded Age. It is a novel that will challenge and engage readers, and leave them reflecting on the true cost of wealth and status...
List of books similar to "The Custom of the Country":
Edith Wharton
The Age of Innocence
If you enjoyed 'The Custom of the Country', you may like 'The Age of Innocence', another novel by Edith Wharton. This book tells the story of Newland Archer, a man torn between his love for the unconventional Countess Olenska and his duty to his wealthy and traditional family. Like 'The Custom of the Country', 'The Age of Innocence' explores themes of social class, tradition, and the struggle for individual freedom in a restrictive society.
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Edith Wharton
House of Mirth
For readers who enjoyed the sharp social commentary and complex characters in 'The Custom of the Country', 'House of Mirth' is another great choice. This novel follows the fortunes of Lily Bart, a beautiful and intelligent woman who struggles to maintain her place in New York high society while remaining true to herself.
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Henry James
The Portrait of a Lady
If you enjoyed the exploration of wealth, social class, and individual freedom in 'The Custom of the Country', you may also like 'The Portrait of a Lady' by Henry James. This novel tells the story of Isabel Archer, a young American woman who inherits a large fortune and must navigate the complexities of European society as she tries to find her own way in the world.
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Henry James
Washington Square
For readers who enjoyed the psychological depth and subtle social commentary of 'The Custom of the Country', 'Washington Square' is another great choice. This novel tells the story of Catherine Sloper, a young woman who is caught between the demands of her strict father and her own desires as she tries to find happiness in 19th century New York.
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Nathaniel Hawthorne
The Scarlet Letter
For readers who enjoyed the exploration of societal expectations and the consequences of nonconformity in 'The Custom of the Country', 'The Scarlet Letter' is another great choice. This novel tells the story of Hester Prynne, a woman who is ostracized by her community after having an affair and giving birth to a child out of wedlock.
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Henry James
The Bostonians
If you enjoyed the complex relationships and social commentary in 'The Custom of the Country', you may also like 'The Bostonians' by Henry James. This novel tells the story of Olive Chancellor, a wealthy and independent woman who becomes involved with Basil Ransom, a conservative southern lawyer, and Verena Tarrant, a young woman with radical political views.
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George Eliot
Daniel Deronda
For readers who enjoyed the exploration of identity, social class, and the search for meaning in 'The Custom of the Country', 'Daniel Deronda' is another great choice. This novel tells the story of Daniel Deronda, a young man who is torn between his love for Gwendolen Harleth, a wealthy and selfish woman, and his desire to help the Jewish people.
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George Eliot
Middlemarch
If you enjoyed the complex characters and social commentary in 'The Custom of the Country', you may also like 'Middlemarch' by George Eliot. This novel tells the story of a group of characters in a small English town as they navigate the complexities of love, marriage, and social class in the 19th century.
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George Eliot
Felix Holt, the Radical
For readers who enjoyed the exploration of political ideologies and the struggle for individual freedom in 'The Custom of the Country', 'Felix Holt, the Radical' is another great choice. This novel tells the story of Felix Holt, a radical thinker who becomes involved in a political campaign in a small English town.
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Nathaniel Hawthorne
The Marble Faun
If you enjoyed the themes of tradition, social class, and the weight of the past in 'The Custom of the Country', you may also like 'The Marble Faun' by Nathaniel Hawthorne. This novel tells the story of a group of American artists who are living in Rome and grappling with the weight of their own pasts as they try to find their place in the world.
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