The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910 discussion

Mrs. Manstey's View - February 10-15
The Quicksand - February 16-20
Roman Fever - February 21-28

I got the entire book - The New York Stories of Edith Wharton - out of the library, and I've been reading the other stories in the book as well.

If anyone else is reading the other stories besides our three, let me know. Maybe we can set up a thread and discuss.

Barbs wrote: "I have some catching up to do! Where is February going?"

I don't know what happened to either Jan or Feb

There is an onlne version of Roman Fever here:

http://classiclit.about.com/library/b...

Knitting features as a theme, perhaps Rochelle will join us:)

We are in Italy again and two female 'young things' are about to be flown to the Necropolis at Tarquinia, taken by two equally young male 'aviators' - very modern!

http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1158

BTW Roman fever is a reference to mal aria = bad air which was thought to cause the disease, which was quite prevalent in Rome until fairly recently and which is now thought to have contributed to the Fall of Rome. It was, however, not bad air but bad water in the aquaducts and marshes, which harboured a deadly species of mosquito carried by cargo ships from Africa

After reading these three stories I was reminded that I hadn't yet read "Custom of the County" which I proceeded to do. Loved it! (I voted for it on one of the Listmania lists --Rooting for the Villain.)
The scene in Italy where Undine has a meltdown, and Ralph starts his journey of dis-illusionment -- so vivid.

So, thanks for picking these.

*tracks down Custom of the County*

You are in for a treat. I was captivated from the very first page of Custom of the Country: grand hotel room in NYC, beautiful daughter flouncing around grumbling to her mother and a manicurist, wheedling stuff out of her parents.

If I were In Charge + could go back in time I'd give this one the 2013 Pulitzer Prize (which didn't start til a couple years later).