Glimpses of the Moon - Edith Wharton

"Set in the 1920s, Glimpses of the Moon details the romantic
misadventures of Nick Lansing and Susy Branch, a couple with the right connections but not much in the way of funds. They devise a shrewd bargain: they'll marry and spend a year or so sponging off their wealthy friends, honeymooning in their mansions and villas. The other part of the plan states that if either one of them meets someone who can advance them socially, they're free to dissolve the marriage. How their plan unfolds is a comedy of errors that will charm all fans of Wharton's work."

Well, Wharton's brilliance is at it again. 

I have heard this story described as a love story, and while an accurate description, I would suggest that it is a touch misleading and strips the story of the many many layers that it possesses. Both as a character study, and as a study of society at a very specific time in history. 

Glimpses of the Moon is a intricate character study of two, actually quite unlikable main characters. Susy is vapid, self absorbed, mercenary and grasping. Nick has a superiority complex though the roof, condescending and hypocritical. Both are prone to feeling that the world owes them something, refuse to work honestly, and look at their wealthy friends with such distain it amounts to loathing while still happily taking their money and aspiring to their lifestyle. These are not nice people. Yet Wharton is able to write them in such a way that you find yourself genuinely feeling for them, despite being aware of how flawed they are.

You become genuinely invested in these characters and you are able, strangely, to relate to them. You feel for Nick when he becomes aware, and then embarrassed, by his inability to financially look after his new wife and how this deeply impacts this view of himself. You see him becoming aware of just how low he has slipped morally, and how he wants to try for something better. You see him grapple with his feelings about Susy. He loves her and in loving her, he wants to be a better person and have a higher standard of moral integrity. Yet as his morals change, he becomes more and more disillusioned with her morally grey mercenary ways. By loving her, he falls out of love with her. 

You feel for Susy who just wants to be financially secure and have pretty things. Is that really such a crime to want, especially as a women with little to no financial mobility by herself, who's only route to power was through matrimony? Could you really hate her for "managing" when what else was really open to her? Did she deserve to be so looked down on by Nick who, up until their marriage, had been "managing" himself in exactly the same way. 

There where moments when I wanted to just slap both these characters and tell them to just god damn communicate better. But, I think that was the whole point. They had to discover what was important to them separately. I loved the ending. It was utterly endearing; so beautifully and painfully hopeful. The realisation literally amounting to money can't buy happiness. Fulfilment doesn't come from material gain but from emotional investment. This was a slightly amusing take, however, coming from a writer whose family supposedly inspired the saying "keeping up with the Jones'" as they where so exceptionally wealthy everyone had to fight to keep pace with them.  

I am also honour bound to discuss Wharton's writing. She just blows me away. Her descriptions of Susy and Nick's acquaintance are brilliant. I was especially struck with her characterisation of Streffy. Wharton's insights into the human psyche and the foibles of society are stunningly handled and nuanced. Everyone is multi faceted and achingly human. I truly cannot recommend enough, though I must warn you it is an emotionally taxing book and deserves a slow and thoughtful perusal. 

Age Rating 15+. Nothing untoward, though the writing style might be a little tough for a younger audience.