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StoryPDFThe House of MirthEdith Wharton

The House of Mirth

Edith Wharton

Complete text
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Lily Bart moves through wealthy New York society with beauty, social skill, and precarious finances. Marriage seems to offer security, but her choices are constrained by expectations she both understands and resists. Invitations, debts, and reputation entangle her in a world where apparent freedom depends on continued acceptance.

29 sections130,247 wordsAbout 9 h 52 min
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About The House of Mirth

Social transactions often appear as friendship until their costs become visible. Lily can recognize the rules and still misjudge how little protection that knowledge provides. Read the different meanings of leisure, generosity, and independence for people with and without secure income, and consider how gossip converts ambiguous conduct into a story that its subject cannot easily revise.

Reading focus

Trace the hidden costs of invitations and apparent generosity in a society where reputation and financial dependence make belonging precarious.

This reading edition contains 130,247 words in 29 original sections. Read the text online with adjustable type and three colour themes, or keep a printable PDF.

Author: Edith Wharton. Language: English. Reading edition: 28 October 2026.

Opening excerpt

Selden paused in surprise. In the afternoon rush of the Grand Central Station his eyes had been refreshed by the sight of Miss Lily Bart.

Read the complete opening section

Contents

All sections
  1. BOOK ONE — Chapter 121 min
  2. BOOK ONE — Chapter 217 min
  3. BOOK ONE — Chapter 327 min
  4. BOOK ONE — Chapter 422 min
  5. BOOK ONE — Chapter 523 min
  6. BOOK ONE — Chapter 621 min
  7. BOOK ONE — Chapter 721 min
  8. BOOK ONE — Chapter 823 min
  9. BOOK ONE — Chapter 923 min
  10. BOOK ONE — Chapter 1017 min
  11. BOOK ONE — Chapter 1114 min
  12. BOOK ONE — Chapter 1221 min
  13. BOOK ONE — Chapter 1320 min
  14. BOOK ONE — Chapter 1435 min
  15. BOOK ONE — Chapter 1523 min
  16. BOOK TWO — Chapter 123 min
  17. BOOK TWO — Chapter 225 min
  18. BOOK TWO — Chapter 323 min
  19. BOOK TWO — Chapter 419 min
  20. BOOK TWO — Chapter 520 min
  21. BOOK TWO — Chapter 621 min
  22. BOOK TWO — Chapter 715 min
  23. BOOK TWO — Chapter 823 min
  24. BOOK TWO — Chapter 917 min
  25. BOOK TWO — Chapter 1027 min
  26. BOOK TWO — Chapter 1115 min
  27. BOOK TWO — Chapter 1212 min
  28. BOOK TWO — Chapter 1325 min
  29. BOOK TWO — Chapter 1411 min

Reading & download help

Is this the complete The House of Mirth?

This edition contains the complete English literary text, with 29 sections and 130,247 words. This reading edition preserves the checked English text and its section order. No study notes have been added.

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A4 is designed for 210 × 297 mm paper; US Letter for 8.5 × 11 inch paper. Both contain the same complete text, selectable text and section bookmarks.

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Edition details and corrections.