The House of Mirth was Edith Wharton''s first important work of fiction, selling 140,000 copies between October and the end of December 1905. Written in the style of a novel of manners, set against the backdrop of the 1890s New York ruling class, it tells the story of Lily Bart, a woman who is torn between her desire for luxurious living and a relationship based on mutual respect and love. Will she do what is expected of her and give in to tradition and conventions? Or will she reject all her possible chances for a wealthy marriage and lose the esteem of her social circle, and maybe face an even worse fate?