
A chance meeting at a bustling train station draws the world‑weary Lily Bart into the orbit of the observant and somewhat mischievous Mr. Selden. Lily, with her striking looks and a reputation that teeters between admiration and envy, finds herself stranded without a connection in a city that thrives on social ties. Selden, intrigued by her enigmatic aura, offers his assistance, turning a simple encounter into a tentative partnership that promises both comfort and curiosity.
Their conversation reveals the fragile balance Lily maintains between elegance and financial uncertainty, exposing the pressures of a society that rewards appearance while demanding endless propriety. As they navigate the crowded platforms and the whispered judgments of onlookers, listeners are invited to glimpse the delicate dance of ambition, reputation, and the yearning for genuine companionship that defines Lily’s world.
Language
fi
Duration
~12 hours (715K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2016-10-13
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1862–1937
A sharp-eyed novelist of Gilded Age America, she wrote elegant, emotionally precise stories about wealth, freedom, and the rules people live by. Best known for The Age of Innocence and The House of Mirth, she remains one of the great chroniclers of ambition, desire, and social pressure.
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