Folio Archives 267: The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton 1990
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1wcarter
The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton 1990
Set in 1905, the novel follows the life of an impecunious but socially acceptable young woman as she moves through New York high society. From country house to grand dinner in Summer, cotillions to the opera in Autumn, then in Winter, one simply must cruise the Mediterranean in a private yacht. But behind the happy façade lurks real life and its sorrows. Our heroine, Lily Rey, circulates with the best of the best while realising that at 29 she is rapidly reaching an age where she is becoming unmarriageable.
A gentle book with insights into how society functioned in New York more than a century ago. When handsome cabs were more common than automobiles and the correct style in both clothes and manners was essential.
The 304 page volume has thirteen leaves of two-colour plates by Eric Holzman. It is introduced by Bel Mooney and bound in white cloth with a wrap-around illustration in yellow, brown and grey by Holzman.
The endlaeaves are pale brown as are the page tops, and the 24.8x16.7cm. slipcase is cream. The title is gilt printed on the spine, but is hard to see against the variegated brown background.
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
Set in 1905, the novel follows the life of an impecunious but socially acceptable young woman as she moves through New York high society. From country house to grand dinner in Summer, cotillions to the opera in Autumn, then in Winter, one simply must cruise the Mediterranean in a private yacht. But behind the happy façade lurks real life and its sorrows. Our heroine, Lily Rey, circulates with the best of the best while realising that at 29 she is rapidly reaching an age where she is becoming unmarriageable.
A gentle book with insights into how society functioned in New York more than a century ago. When handsome cabs were more common than automobiles and the correct style in both clothes and manners was essential.
The 304 page volume has thirteen leaves of two-colour plates by Eric Holzman. It is introduced by Bel Mooney and bound in white cloth with a wrap-around illustration in yellow, brown and grey by Holzman.
The endlaeaves are pale brown as are the page tops, and the 24.8x16.7cm. slipcase is cream. The title is gilt printed on the spine, but is hard to see against the variegated brown background.
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
3ian_curtin
I agree with you, >2 cronshaw: - not a pleasing effort. A pity, as it's a great novel.
By chance I am mid-way through my FS edition of Age of Innocence just now - have been saving it to read for ages. By contrast, that is a very fine design.
By chance I am mid-way through my FS edition of Age of Innocence just now - have been saving it to read for ages. By contrast, that is a very fine design.
4assemblyman
>2 cronshaw: I quite like the binding and the illustrations but don't know if it is suitable for the novel having not read it.
5ubiquitousuk
>2 cronshaw: >3 ian_curtin: Hmm, I quite like the painterly quality of the illustrations. There's not accounting for taste!
>1 wcarter: thanks for sharing as always. I think there's a typo: handsome cab should be hansom cab, named for Joseph Hansom, who was, I am sure, especially handsome!
>1 wcarter: thanks for sharing as always. I think there's a typo: handsome cab should be hansom cab, named for Joseph Hansom, who was, I am sure, especially handsome!
6Lady19thC
Interesting. I was a member at the time, or shortly after, but never noticed this publication. Well, I do wish they would republish it with a nicer binding and illustrations! How refreshing it would be!
7SimB
Back in the membership days, this may have been the first book I got from the FS. I thought it was wonderful. Unfortunately I don't think the images give it justice. To my mind the images of the illustrations are over sharpened and more contrasty than the originals, and the photos of the cover and the spine do not show its subtlety.
I think it would be very hard to photo, particularly the cover and spine. In real life the spine title "THE HOUSE OF MIRTH * FOLIO" just stands out and reflects in gold towards you.
It's one of my favorite books.
I think it would be very hard to photo, particularly the cover and spine. In real life the spine title "THE HOUSE OF MIRTH * FOLIO" just stands out and reflects in gold towards you.
It's one of my favorite books.
