The House of Mirth

New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1905 Illustrated with eight plates by A. B. Wenzell. First edition, first printing, American issue, with Scribner's seal to copyright page and no ads at rear. Publisher's red cloth, with front board and spine stamped in gilt, top edge gilt, fore and bottom edges rough trimmed; lacking scarce original dust jacket. Very good, rubbing to cloth throughout, a touch of wear to spine ends, light expert archival reinforcement to hinges, and faint marginal dampstaining to just a few pages and plates. Overall, a bright and attractive copy. Garrison A12.I.a. House of Mirth, Edith Wharton's second novel, centers around 29-year-old Lily Bart, a beautiful socialite who seeks to marry someone who will provide her with status and wealth. In the conniving world of high society, Lily's own morality proves to be her greatest liability. She becomes caught up in the machinations of various members of her circle, and eventually her reputation is irreparably stained, leading to her tragic downfall. In the spirit of some other Gilded Age masterpieces, the book satirizes and condemns the hypocrisy and immortality of the wealthy class. Author Jennifer Egan writes that The House of Mirth "is a masterpiece that remains electrifying and relevant in the 21st century." . First Edition. Hard Cover. Very Good. Illus. by Wenzell, A. B..