The Custom of the Country

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Summary: She Just Turns Out Masterpieces!
Review: Edith Wharton is certainly one of the most accomplished authors in American history. I don't think there is ONE of her books that I don't completely LOVE. And, "Custom of the Country" is certainly one for the record books. Wharton creates a completely new and different novel in "Custom" than in her previous books. As in the others, you may have found yourself really cheering or rooting for the main characters. You felt affection and fondness for them. But, in this one could you have found more fault with Undine? She's everything a reader should just loath. But, for some strange and heartwarming reason, you don't care. You move past that and just enjoy this wonderfully written American Masterpiece. Wharton's gift for words, story and characterization is fabulous. I just love her. She's one of my top 3 favs.

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Summary: Slow-building Classic
Review: Edith Wharton is likely the best chronicler of life in the upper startum of early New York, and the CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY joins her other classics in this realm, such as the HOUSE OF MIRTH and the AGE OF INNOCENCE. From the beginning, you can see where the book is headed, but the skill with which it's written keeps it from being a predictable read. The herione (?) is Undine Spragg, a social climber on the order of Lily Bart. Undine is a rather unlikeable protagonist, which leaves one's sympathies with the supporting characters, such as her first husband, Ralph Marvell. Fortunately, the book is filled with wonderful supporting characters, and the book's point-of-view often shifts between these characters. The ending is bittersweet, but gives one a great deal of insight into the emptiness of attaining everthying you want. Another terrific novel from Edith Wharton!

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Summary: An excellent read!
Review: Edith Wharton takes the reader back in time as she eloquently depicts life at the turn of the century for New York's wealthy elite. Through her vivid description you get a feeling of being in the room with her character's.

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Summary: E gads!
Review: I am a big Edith Wharton fan, however, Custom of the Country has made me question my loyalty. I loved both the plot and narrative style of "Ethan Frome" and "The House of Mirth," and was deeply disappointed in the lackluster writing style of "Custom." Undine is a predictable, tiring character - her parents and multiple husbands do little in the way of adding excitment to the plot. I would reccomend interested readers to chose a different work by this reveared author.

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Summary: I absolutely loved it!!
Review: I happened upon a commentary concerning this book in a book about divorce and the effects on children. It sounded very interesting so I bought it and started reading it. I have found it extremely fascinating. I have never read any works by Wharton nor have I watched the movie, Age of Innocence. This has been such a wonderful find. I plan on reading all other of her books, including her autobiography. She must have been a fascinating person to know. She has wonderful insights into the machinations of humankind. Wharton reminds me alot of Ayn Rand, whom I also loved. I sincerely recommend this book to anyone interested in the inner workings,thoughts and motives of people.

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Summary: A spoilt heiress destroys the lives of all she meets.
Review: I have just finished reading Edith Wharton's THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY and have never wanted to strangle a protaganist so much in my life! Ms. Wharton has created a character that could rival any modern day soap opera vixen. Undine Spragg is spoilt, selfish, vain and socially ambitious. When Ms. Wharton writes from her perspective, I found myself at times feeling sorry for her. When she writes from the perspective of the people Undine ruins, I despised her. In the end, there is nothing kind that I can say about Undine Spragg. About Ms. Wharton, however, I can say she has again reestablished herself as a literary genius. In the character of Undine, Ms. Wharton criticizes the emptiness of greed mixed with vanity in a shallow person who knows nothing else. However, Ms. Wharton also makes it clear that Undine is not soley to blame for her character. "It is the custom of the country" her second father-in-law explains of Undine's stupidity, insensitivity and unending selfishness. Women who are so totally pampered and kept ignorant of the real world remain spoilt brats until they are old enough to truly hurt so many lives. The two saddest victims of her ruthlessness are her second husband Ralph, a sensitive writer from an old-money family, and their son Paul. Though it is doubtful anyone will like Undine, you will at times pity her. However, the genius of Edith Wharton is that through Undine we see the destruction of society and families by the ridiculous treatment of women in society of early 1900's. Another note on this particular edition of this and all Everyman books is that they are so beautifully crafted, it is always a treasure to read any book printed by this company. Besides being beautifully designed, Everyman editions also have wonderful chronologies of the author and historical references and literary events. They are truly elegant additions to any library.

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Summary: One of Edith Wharton's best
Review: I read "The Custom Of A Country" straight after "The Age Of Innocence" and was pleasantly surprised by both. The language, the subtle sarcasm and hints towards the characters and the balanced plot make this book one of the best classics ever. Towards the end you start to relise what this book is really about. It is not a Jane Austen with a happy ending, it is a sad but true book showing the effects of Victorian Society upon a person. At the end the heroine is the the only content person and the saddest part, I think, is her total ignorance to the trail of destruction she has left behind her. I would recomend this book though it is long and depressing

Rating:
Summary: a pure masterpiece
Review: I've just finished reading this book and i must say that i found it extremely good. While reading it you build up an absolute hatred for the main character, Undine Spragg. She drives you on to keep reading despite your hatred, to see if anything that deserves to happen to her does happen. Although certainly not one of Wharton's most noted books, it does have a kind of hidden lustre to it that makes you want to tell everyone to read it. If you have read and liked either The House of Mirth or The Buccaneers, I would suggest you try The Custom of the Country.

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Summary: "If only everyone would do as she wished..."
Review: In CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY Edith Wharton created a most unlikable protagonist that is certainly easy to deplore. Undine Spragg is the epitome of a spoiled individual who doesn't bother to care how her financial demands negatively affect those around her. After moving to New York with her parents she has the full intentions of entering the ranks of high society. She studies the society columns in the local newspapers and dreams of residing in a splendid home on Fifth Avenue. Undine is both charming and beautiful and she doesn't hesitate to rely on various schemes and methods to get what she wants.

During the course of this book the reader follows Undine as she strives to enter the fashionable social circles of New York at the beginning of the 20th century. She studies the prominent players in the upper classes and desires to join them during their dinner parties in New York and their annual spring trips to Paris. Unfortunately her father doesn't possess the type of financial resources to accommodate Undine's wishes so she seeks to marry a man who can provide. Undine's climb to the top of New York society is not without incident. At times her ascendancy is marked by setbacks and controversies that aim to keep Undine away from the social limelight.

Edith Wharton provides insightful commentaries on how Undine Spragg is so self-centered and ignorant and the general superficiality of high society during this time period. Undine completely ignored the concerns of her husband(s) and her child as she strived to join the fashionably conscious social circles. The social and religious sentiments towards divorced woman are also explored during this era of general disapproval of broken marriages. CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY provides a revealing glimpse into the workings of the upper society circles of New York before the Great War. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant!
Review: One of the best novels of the Century! Great narrative, terrific characters, splendid knowledge of the period!