内容简介
SelectedbytheModernLibraryasoneofthe100bestnovelsofalltimeInTheHouseofMirth，EdithWhartondepictstheglitteringsalonsofGildedAgeNewYorkwithprecisionandwit，evenasshemovinglyportraystheobstaclesthatimpededwomen'schoicesattheturnofthecentury.Thebeautiful，much-desiredLilyBarthasbeenraisedtobeoneoftheperfectwivesofthewealthyupperclass，buthersparkofcharacterandindependentdrivepreventsherfrombecomingoneofthemanywomenwhowillsucceedinthosecircles.Thoughherdesireforacomfortablelifemeansthatshecannotmarryforlovewithoutmoney，herresistancetotherulesofthesocialeliteendangershermanymarriageproposals.AsLilyspiralsdownintodebtanddishonor，herstorytakesontheresonanceofclassictragedy.OneofWharton'smostbracingandnuancedportraitsofthelifeofwomeninahostile，highlyorderedworld，TheHouseofMirthexposesthetruthsaboutAmericanhighsocietythatitsdenizensmostwishedtodeny.WithanintroductionbyPamelaKnights.
作者简介
TheupperstratumofNewYorksocietyintowhichEdithWhartonwasbornin1862providedherwithanabundanceofmaterialasanovelistbutdidnotencouragehergrowthasanartist.Educatedbytutorsandgovernesses,shewasraisedforonlyonecareer:marriage.Buthermarriage,in1885,toEdwardWhartonwasanemotionaldisappointment,ifnotadisaster.Shesufferedthefirstofaseriesofnervousbreakdownsin1894.Inspiteofthestrainofhermarriage,orperhapsbecauseofit,shebegantowritefictionandpublishedherfirststoryin1889.Herfirstpublishedbookwasaguidetointeriordecorating,butthiswasfollowedbyseveralnovelsandstorycollections.TheywerewrittenwhiletheWhartonslivedinNewportandNewYork,traveledinEurope,andbuilttheirgrandhome,TheMount,inLenox,Massachusetts.InEurope,shemetHenryJames,whobecamehergoodfriend,travelingcompanion,andthesternestbutmostcarefulcriticofherfiction.TheHouseofMirth(1905)wasbotharesoundingcriticalsuccessandabestseller,aswasEthanFrome(1911).In1913theWhartonsweredivorced,andEdithtookuppermanentresidenceinFrance.Hersubject,however,remainedAmerica,especiallythemoneyedNewYorkofheryouth.Hergreatsatiricnovel,TheCustomoftheCountrywaspublishedin1913andTheAgeofInnocencewonherthePulitzerPrizein1921.Inherlateryears,sheenjoyedtheadmirationofanewgenerationofwriters,includingSinclairLewisandF.ScottFitzgerald.Inall,shewrotesomethirtybooks,includinganautobiography.ABackwardsGlance(1934).ShediedathervillanearParisin1937.FromthePaperbackedition.,,,
