Another book unread (by me) since May 1977, when we bought it.
I couldn’t (quite) get into it; it was good in parts, but the narrative didn’t drive me along (although little does these days). Henry James without the subtlety; I am not even sure that is correct.
A New York society novel, but this society is internally bored and about to fracture. The hero Newland Archer is caught right on the cusp of this change; falls in love with a fallen (New York) woman who has married into corrupt Europe and returned to New York in some ambiguity and disgrace.
But Archer’s course is set to marry May Welland and the book is a slow torment for him between his love for two women. May and society hold sway in the end.
Worth re-reading, and maybe make some notes on the characters and their interactions and social standing.
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