House of Mirth by Edith Wharton

Synopsis

Faced with an array of wealthy suitors, New York socialite Lily Bart falls in love with lawyer Lawrence Selden, whose lack of money spoils their chances for happiness together. Dubious business deals and accusations of liaisons with a married man diminish Lily’s social status, and as she makes one bad choice after another, she learns how venal and brutally unforgiving the upper crust of New York can be.

Lovely another book centered around the exploits of "society." These stories of snobbery are the toughest things about this quest. I guess I shouldn't cast it out so blightly. I mean it was well-written. I just can't tolerate people with aristocratic views and Wharton in no way glorifies these folks.

Up next is Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose, which is ironic sense Edith Wharton's original title for The House of Mirth was The Year of the Rose.

Ben-Hur: A Tale of Christ by Lew Wallace

Synopsis

Bestseller Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ combines the romance, melodrama, and spiritual piety common in the sentimental novels of the nineteenth century with the action, adventure, and intrigue found in the more lurid tales of the day. The story takes its Jewish hero, Judah Ben-Hur, across the Roman Empire of the first century, initially on a quest for revenge against the Roman childhood friend who betrayed him and then finally on a more spiritual quest to understand the nature of the new teacher Jesus Christ.

As odd as it may seem I've never watched the Charlton Heston classic which is based on this novel by Lew Wallace.

I found it interesting when I read up on some of Lew Wallace's background. He was a general during the Civil War. Later on he went on a secret mission in Mexico to support President Benito Juarez. He also convinced Billy the Kid to testify against other outlaws. 

Ben-Hur's spiritual journey goes along with Wallace's own journey. Before writing the novel Wallace claimed that he neither believed or disbelieved and was embarrassed by his lack of knowledge.   He created a fictional story set in the time of Christ so that the story would reach a more broad audience than just sermonizing.

Next up will be House of Mirth by Edith Wharton.