The Custom of the Country国家的习俗

Firstpublishedin1913,EdithWharton'sTheCustomoftheCountryisascathingnovelofambitionfeaturingoneofthemostruthlessheroinesinliterature.UndineSpraggisasunscrupulousassheismagneticallybeautiful.HerrisetothetopofNewYork'shighsocietyfromthenouveauricheprovidesaprovocativecommentaryontheupwardlymobileandtheaspirationsthateventuallycausetheirruin.OneofWharton'smostacclaimedworks,TheCustomoftheCountryisastunningindictmentofmaterialismandmisplacedvaluesthatisaspowerfultodayforitsastuteobservationsaboutgreedandpoweraswhenitwaswrittennearlyacenturyago.