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Bezig met laden... The Old Maid (1924)door Edith Wharton
Bezig met laden...
Meld je aan bij LibraryThing om erachter te komen of je dit boek goed zult vinden. Op dit moment geen Discussie gesprekken over dit boek. En 1850, la alta burguesía neoyorquina disfruta de una desentendida prosperidad. Delia, reina del endogámico clan de los Ralston, ultima los detalles de su vestuario para brillar en el acontecimiento social del año: el enlace de su prima Charlotte Lovell con Joe Ralston, que, además, sellará una alianza entre las dos familias hegemónicas de Nuev York. Cuando nada parece poder desbaratar tan idílico porvenir, una desquiciada Charlotte irrumpe en casa de Delia para desvelarle un secreto que alterará para siempre la placidez de sus vidas y que, de saberse, tumbaría los códigos éticos de los que ambas se han venido nutriendo. This novella studies two women, Delia Ralston and her cousin Charlotte Lovell, in the 19th century. Delia is content in her marriage, if not wildly in love, despite lingering regrets about a young man who did not have the money to marry her or the desire for a staid profession in New York City. Charlotte is about to be married, after an illness that took her away for awhile and left her somewhat changed. Then Charlotte comes to Delia and confesses that one of the poor children to whom she has been providing assistance is in fact her own daughter; she is doubting her ability to marry because her fiance wants her to give up the children. Delia's handling of the situation then and twenty years later reveals her character and the nature of her society, with some pointed commentary on how women enforced the double standard. While it's not as good as Ethan Frome, The Old Maid is of a similar length, probably even shorter, and really EF is a hard act to follow. Edith Wharton tells the simple story beautifully. I didn't feel like the story was predictable, and I'm looking forward to reading more of Wharton's tetralogy. As her wedding day approaches, Charlotte Lowell reveals a long-hidden secret to her cousin, Delia Ralston: the foundling that she has been visiting as a charity project is actually her own daughter, born as the result of a brief affair with one of Delia's former beaux. (Don't worry--no spoilers; this is something you learn in the first few chapters, and I promise to give nothing else away.) The reactions, decisions, and solutions that follow will deeply affect the lives of the two women, as well as that of the little girl, Tina. As so often, Wharton sets her story in upper crust New York society at the end of the nineteenth century, a world propelled by money, property, lineage, and rigid rules of etiquette. But the most interesting aspect of The Old Maid is the shifting relationship between the cousins, Delia and "Chatty" (Charlotte). Wharton delves deep into their psychology, exploring their fears, resentments, and motivations over the course of twenty years, all of them revolving around the often conflicting values of maternal love and family loyalties. This is, as another reviewer noted, a sentimental story--but not in a maudlin, melodramatic way. I consider it a fine addition to my Wharton shelf. geen besprekingen | voeg een bespreking toe
Is opgenomen inThe Edith Wharton omnibus door Edith Wharton (indirect) Heeft de bewerkingThe Old Maid door Zoë Akins
A novella, classical Wharton, following the life of Tina, a passionate young woman caught between her adopted mother, the socially proper Delia, and her Aunt Charlotte, her true mother who gave up her claim to the young child to provide a socially acceptable life for her daughter. This unique Modern Library edition includes an introduction by Roxana Robinson, a reading group guide, text set from the original Red Book serial and comprehensive endnotes Geen bibliotheekbeschrijvingen gevonden. |
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Google Books — Bezig met laden... GenresDewey Decimale Classificatie (DDC)813.52Literature English (North America) American fiction 20th Century 1900-1944LC-classificatieWaarderingGemiddelde:
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