Sunday, May 27, 2012

Gilded Age-Claire McMillan

Gilded Age


Claire McMillan

Simon & Schuster, Jun 12 2012, $25.00

ISBN: 9781451640472



Eleanor Hart returns to Cleveland when her Manhattan-based marriage ended in divorce. Rumors abound that the beautiful chic Ellie stopped on her way home for a thirty day stay at Sierra Tucson, a noted rehab center.



Ellie still has her magnetic control of men who are attracted to her like bees buzzing around honey. Her best friend quickly realizes when they meet at the opera for the first time since Ellie cane home that she remains as self-indulged as always. Knowing Ellie has no money, her BFF suggests she marry a rich suitor like wealthy ambulance chasing lawyer Randall Leforte. As Ellie makes the rounds of Cleveland’s in-bred acrimonious affluent, she seems to always return to case Reserve Western University English professor William Selden.



This is a superb modernization of The House of Mirth that makes a case that women may claim they have come a long way since the early twentieth century of the Edith Wharton novel, but realistically have not gotten very far as a woman’s societal standing has not altered that much. Though sexual views seem antiquated yet ironically timely with the Vagina War, Ellie’s unnamed BFF provides a strong sharp condemnation of society that assaults women who choose to break out of their pre-determined by DNA caste.



Harriet Klausner

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