The Custom of the Country

by Edith Wharton
The Custom of the Country cover
Good Books rating 4.5
Historical Fiction
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  • ID: 8294
  • Added: 2025-12-21
  • Updated: 2026-01-06
  • ISBN: 9781775450610
  • Publisher: The Floating Press
  • Published: 2011-01-01
  • Formats: 3
  • Reviews: 3

The Custom of the Country introduces readers to Undine Spragg, a country girl with a relentless drive to climb the social ladder in the bustling metropolis of New York. Wharton's exquisite prose and keen social commentary make this a compelling exploration of ambition, marriage, and the price of success. /n/n Undine's journey is filled with twists and turns as she manipulates and schemes her way through the upper echelons of society. The novel offers a biting critique of the Gilded Age and the moral compromises made in the pursuit of wealth and status. Fans of Wharton's other works will appreciate the intricate character development and the vivid portrayal of a bygone era.

Reviews
This Chick Reads · 2025-12-21
brilliant 4.50

The book is a sharp critique of high society, wrapped in the glitter of the Gilded Age. It's surprisingly fun in its ruthlessness.

This reviewer found the book to be a sharp and unflinching critique of high society, wrapped in the glitter of the Gilded Age. The ruthlessness of the characters and their actions is surprisingly fun to read about. The book's critique of social norms and the pursuit of wealth is both incisive and entertaining. The reviewer appreciates the way Wharton balances dark themes with a sense of humor, making the book both thought-provoking and enjoyable. They also note that the book's exploration of ambition and social dynamics is particularly noteworthy.

Quick quotes

    The Custom of the Country is sharp, unflinching, and surprisingly fun in its ruthlessness.

    It's a critique of high society wrapped in the glitter of Gilded Age.

    Wharton's ability to create interesting characters, captivating plots, and prose that is incredibly beautiful, makes anything she writes a pleasure to read.

Vulpes Libris · 2008-06-01
brilliant 4.50

The book is praised for its sharpness, clarity, and refusal to sentimentalize its characters or their situations.

This reviewer loves Wharton's sharpness, clarity, and refusal to sentimentalize her characters or their situations. They find a dark humor at work in the book, which adds to its appeal. The reviewer appreciates the way Wharton portrays the complexities of human nature and the social dynamics of the time. They also note that the book's exploration of ambition and the pursuit of wealth is particularly noteworthy. Overall, they find the book to be a brilliant and thought-provoking read.

Quick quotes

    I love Wharton's sharpness, clarity and refusal to sentimentalise her characters or their situations.

    There is certainly a dark humour at work in this novel.

    Wharton's ability to create interesting characters, captivating plots, and prose that is incredibly beautiful, makes anything she writes a pleasure to read.

The Guardian · 2004-06-19
brilliant 4.50

The book is described as one of the most enjoyable great novels ever written, with a sharp and incisive commentary on ambition and social dynamics.

This reviewer describes the book as one of the most enjoyable great novels ever written. They appreciate the sharp and incisive commentary on ambition, beauty, and the social dynamics of early 20th-century American high society. The reviewer also notes that the book's exploration of these themes is both thought-provoking and entertaining. They find the book to be a brilliant and enjoyable read, with a dark humor that adds to its appeal. Overall, they highly recommend the book to anyone interested in social satire and the complexities of human nature.

Quick quotes

    Edith Wharton's The Custom of the Country (1913) is one of the most enjoyable great novels ever written.

    Not all enjoyable novels are great, but this one is both.

    Wharton's ability to create interesting characters, captivating plots, and prose that is incredibly beautiful, makes anything she writes a pleasure to read.

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