Edith Wharton was did not like the "new rich" who were taking over New York around the turn of the century, and in "The Custom of the Country" she makes it very clear why. The heroine, Undine Spagg, a midwestern beauty who comes to New York in search of the social advancement she has always craved, is not likeable, but she is VERY compelling. The story traces the ups and downs of her quest for the level of social advancement that will finally make her happy. Along the way, the novel pillories the new rich, and holds the old rich up to a regretful examination. The book is a great read -- you may not like Undine, but you do want to find out what she does next -- and extremely witty. Wharton's ability to turn a phrase was unparalleled. I wish someone would -- could -- write a book like this about today's 1%. ( )

Firstly: how can you fail to love a novel whose main character is UNDINE SPAGG? This story of manners and morals in Gilded Age Manhattan and Paris centers on a shallow woman whose beauty entraps the men who strive to install her in their trophy cases. Out of all her suitors, only the point of view of her first husband, Ralph, is heard. In his mundane upper class life, he seeks in Undine a purpose and a direction for himself, realizing too late, and tragically, that she sees nothing beyond improving her social standing and acquiring clothing and jewels. As she continues on her upward trajectory, Undine leaves behind the parents who funded her voyage and her young son. Obstacles in the form of her own transparency and the unforgiving social strictures trip her up, but never for long. The author sees her and the hypocrisy that surrounds her, especially in regards to the place of women of that time, all-powerful at evening soirees but with nothing to do but depend upon the business success of their husbands. A cruel world for sure, but most others are starving in unheated tenements, so it's hard to muster up much sympathy for Undine and her cohort. ( )

For some, the pursuit of the object you desire never leads to peace, but only emptiness. ( )

Meet the character Undine Spraggs, nickname Undie (lol). She's a spoiled rotten young woman who thinks that to succeed in this life, you only have to be beautiful. On the outside. Due to her parents inability to put down a firm foot on her constant "wants," she goes through her shallow, materialistic life using people. Parents are for giving you money, also husbands. If you don't give her enough, she will get rid of you and find a richer one. Her parents move to succeedingly downgraded hotels because of the money drain that is Undine Spraggs.

This is a deliciously-written novel, seriously hard to put down until the bitter end. Edith Wharton is a superb storyteller and observer of humans and their ridiculous foibles. ( )

Excellent writing but I didn't really like or connect with the characters. The protagonist, Undine, is one of the most self-centered, materialistic fictional characters I've ever encountered on the written page. I do still plan to try reading The Age of Innocence, which is Wharton's Pulitzer Prize winning novel. Otherwise, I'm generally not a big fan of stories set during the Gilded Age. ( )