The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton (Book Analysis)

This practical and insightful reading guide offers a complete summary and analysis of The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton. It provides a thorough exploration of the novel’s plot, characters and main themes, including appearances, identity and self-destruction. The clear and concise style makes for easy understanding, providing the perfect opportunity to improve your literary knowledge in no time.

This clear and detailed 48-page reading guide is structured as follows:

• Biography of Edith Wharton
• Presentation of The House of Mirth
• Summary of The House of Mirth
• Character study
  • Lily Bart
  • Lawrence Selden
  • Mrs Judy Trenor
  • Mr Gus Trenor
  • Bertha Dorset
  • Percy Gryce
  • Gerty Farish
  • Mrs Peniston
  • Grace Stepney
  • Mr Simon Rosedale
• Analysis of The House of Mirth
  • Modern manners
  • Clothes make the woman
  • The burden of interiority
  • Absurdity and modern tragedy

About The House of Mirth

The House of Mirth tells the story of Lily Bart, a vivacious young woman who has fallen on hard times as a result of her father’s failed business ventures and her own gambling addiction. Following her late mother’s advice, she tries to use her beauty and wits to attract a wealthy husband from the New York social elite, but becomes reluctant to go through with this plan when she falls in love with Lawrence Selden, a man of modest means. Soon, rumors and scandal begin to gather around her, and Lily finds herself struggling to survive as society turns its back on her.

About Edith Wharton

Edith Wharton was an American writer, and is best known for her novels The House of Mirth and The Age of Innocence, which won the 1921 Pulitzer Prize. She was also nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature on three occasions. She was born into a privileged family, which gave her the opportunity to travel frequently in her early years, and she eventually settled in Paris. In addition to her recognized influence on literature, she was also a prominent social activist, and received national honors in France and Belgium for her relief work during the First World War.