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The Custom of the Country

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The Custom of the Country

By: Edith Wharton
Narrated by: Lorna Raver
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About this listen

From New York to Europe, the apartments of the nouveau riche to ancient French estates, Edith Wharton tells the story of Undine Spragg, a girl from a Midwestern town with unquenchable social aspirations. Though Undine is narcissistic, pampered, and incredibly selfish, she is a beguiling heroine whose marital initiation into New York high society from its trade-wealthy fringes is only the beginning of her relentless ambitions.

Wharton weaves an elaborate plot that renders a detailed depiction of upper-class social behavior in the early 20th century. By using a character with inexorable greed in a novel of manners, she demonstrates some of the customs of a modern age and posits a surprising explanation for divorce and the social role of women, which still resonates for the modern audience today.

Public Domain (P)2011 Tantor Classics Fiction Women's Fiction Romance

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All stars
Most relevant  
Very entertaining novel that shows so well how the constraints and conditioning that people are subject to deeply affect their lives, not in a good way. Great heroine, Undine Sprague, named not after a sea nymph, but after a commercial venture of one of the previous generation of her family.

Excellent reading by Lorna Raver, amazing range of voices of different ages. Really clever storytelling.

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a great writer and good story loved it can't wait for the film very good

star review

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Normally I enjoy Edith Wharton but this book was SO LONG!
I mean, if there is a moral to this story, one can see it about a third of the way through the book.
However, it is amusing and quite fun to listen to I guess.
The narrator was brilliant and performed the story very well indeed, I thought.
Maybe I shoul have abandoned it and not finished it [the ending was slightly strange!].
Overall...a bit disappointing.

Too long!

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Very good. Edith Wharton at her best. A great listen for a long journey. Excellent.

Fabulous!

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Edith Wharton's best novel in my opinion. Undine Spragg is an incredible invention. Infuriating at times but worth it.

Stunning

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