2017 Reading Challenge discussion

George is entirely insufferable but not quite without redeeming social value. He relies on the canons of Boston's social hierarchy, even on his two journeys to Europe, to shore up his unsteady self-confidence and to help himself to battle alarming youthful temptations to wander from the path of his social class. But, somewhat endearingly, he suffers throughout his life from the perception that although he is always busy, he has never accomplished anything.

He survives the marriage of his son to a divorcée (gasp!) and is even entirely reconciled to it when he learns that his daughter-in-law is one of the Hogarths of Connecticut (although Connecticut itself is too far from Boston and too near New York to be entirely tolerable.) Yet he also helps many (all family members and fellow Harvard grads) after the market crash of October 1929, and does it unobtrusively and tastefully.

Marquand himself came from an old Massachusetts family, and it is likely that not a few of George Apley's associates might resemble people Marquand knew. He treats his characters gently, but skewers them neatly. According to the April 29, 1939 New Yorker, Marquand's "circle of friends narrows with the publication of each book".