The Glimpses of the Moon

The Glimpses of the Moon follows Nick and Susy Lansing, a newly married couple from New York's high society who lack independent wealth. They devise a practical arrangement: they will live off the generosity of their wealthy friends for one year, staying at various vacation homes and accepting gifts, while remaining free to divorce if either finds a more advantageous match. Their calculated plan faces complications as they navigate the social circles of 1920s elite society between New York, Europe, and various luxury destinations. The couple must balance their growing feelings for each other against the pressure to secure their individual financial futures through more profitable marriages. The story traces their separate journeys through a world of opulent houses, lavish parties, and complex social obligations. Their paths diverge and intersect as they encounter opportunities, temptations, and the consequences of their original bargain. Wharton's novel examines the tension between love and pragmatism in a society where marriage serves as both an economic and emotional institution. The story poses questions about authenticity and survival in a world where genuine feelings must compete with financial necessity.

Readers describe this as a lighter, more optimistic Wharton novel compared to her other works. Many note it reads like a romantic comedy, with the plot focusing on marriage and New York society life. Readers appreciate: - The witty dialogue and social commentary - Complex relationship dynamics - Descriptions of 1920s high society and fashion - The more hopeful tone versus Wharton's darker novels Common criticisms: - Plot feels predictable and conventional - Less emotional depth than Wharton's major works - Some find the characters shallow or hard to relate to - Pacing drags in the middle sections Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (1,400+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (90+ ratings) Notable reader comments: "A palate cleanser after heavier Wharton novels" - Goodreads reviewer "Fun but forgettable" - Amazon review "Like watching a sophisticated 1920s rom-com" - LibraryThing user

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The Age of Innocence by Henry James The tale centers on an engaged man's forbidden attraction to a woman separated from her husband in 1870s New York upper class society.

Washington Square by Henry James The narrative explores a conflict between a daughter's romance with a fortune hunter and her wealthy father's opposition in nineteenth-century Manhattan.

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🌟 Unlike Wharton's darker novels, this 1922 Jazz Age romance has a happy ending and was one of her bestsellers during her lifetime 🌟 The novel's title comes from Shakespeare's Hamlet, specifically Hamlet's lines about the "glimpses of the moon" that make nighttime beautiful 🌟 The book's plot, centered on a marriage of convenience between two penniless socialites, was adapted into a silent film in 1923 starring Bebe Daniels 🌟 Wharton wrote this novel while living in France, drawing on her intimate knowledge of wealthy American expatriate society and European high culture 🌟 The book's themes of marriage and social climbing were influenced by Wharton's own experiences in New York society and her divorce in 1913