| Edith Wharton's last novel deals with a foursome of rich young American girls who go off to Europe in search of culture and husbands. They are introduced at the beginning at a resort in Saratoga where Nan St. George, the youngest of the girls, meets her new english governess, a sensitive woman who tries to make Nan, her sister and their friends see the importance of the older social custom of Europe as opposed to the more freewheeling society they are used to in America. When they do go abroad, the girls are very quickly caught up in the aristocratic glamor, fall in love, and in some cases marry quickly, but not always very happily. They soon discover that beneath the fine manners and social graces there are often hidden shabby vices.
Edith Wharton died before she finished this novel. It was completed based on her notes by Marion Mainwaring. | ||
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Plot & Themes Tone of book? - thoughtful Time/era of story - 1600-1899 Romance/Romance Problems Yes Kind of romance: Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Ethnic/regional/gender life Yes GROUP of women story? Yes Main Character Gender - Female Profession/status: Ethnicity/Nationality Main Adversary Identity: - Male Profession/status: How sensitive is this character? Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor Intelligence - Average intelligence Setting How much descriptions of surroundings? - 5 () United States Yes The US: - Northeast Europe Yes European country: - England/UK Misc setting Writing Style Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog |
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