The House of Mirth
by Edith Wharton

The House of Mirth: Style 1 key example

Style
Explanation and Analysis:

One of the most conspicuous aspects of Edith Wharton’s writing style in The House of Mirth is elaborate syntax. Sentences are often long and are almost always complex, polished, and ornate. Her style mirrors the formality and grandeur of the American upper class in the early 20th century, a time when taste leaned toward the ostentatiously expensive and highly decorated.