The House of Mirth

The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton is set against the backdrop of 1890s New York upper-class society, written in the style of a novel of manners.
Wharton places her tragic heroine, Lily Bart, in a society that she describes as a "hot-house of traditions and conventions". The novel start with the unmarried Lily's visit to Lawrence Selden's apartment, a man whom she has feelings for. But to keep her social standing, Lily must marry a wealthier man than Selden. She turns towards Percy Gryce, a young and timid millionaire.
The book received a good review with the New York Times, saying it was, "A novel of remarkable power." There followed months of letters to the Times, arguing over the book. Some readers were enthusiastic fans, while others felt that the book unfairly impugned the city's social elite.