Edith Wharton can create the most human, complex, individualistic characters, make them desire more from life, make them try to do their best regardless of the social situation or imperfect personalities. Those characters will make us root for them and crave their victory and happiness because ourselves we want them to prove to us that life can be changed with individual effort. The whole story will be framed with the most gorgeous writing and narrative you can possibly imagine, and this story will most likely break your heart.

/spoilers/
I knew from the start that Edith Wharton is far too much interested in complex sociological analysis to not try to prove me with this book that a woman of Lilys time can't afford to be rocked by doubts, desires and mistakes. From the first chapter I wanted her to succeed so bad and couldn't be mad at her for wrong choices she made. She wanted to be way more free and way more powerful than her position could allow her to be but in the same time she wasn't able to reach for it compromising what she thought was a honorable thing to do. Truly a tragic story, cried like a baby.