Wednesday 26 December 2018

Simon Rosendale or Lawrence Selden, which is best?

No I am not suggesting a fight.    But the question came up as my sister has written the Introduction to the Macmillan Collectors Library edition of Edith Wharton's "House of Mirth".

Its a book we both love and I was reading her intro today and was pleased to find that she notes how honest Sim Rosendale is, compared to most of those around him.

And we both agree that he is the one Lily Bart should have married.   His proposal is so straightforward and realistic  compared to her other suitors - two of whom are married anyway.

And - Spoiler Alert - poor Lawrence - a single guy and her true love - and unfortunaely a cross between Hamlet and the tiresome Angel Clare (of Tess of the d'Urbervilles fame) - can't bring himself to make the decision to propose to Lily until it's too late.

There has been some gossip about her... so is she good enough for him?   An interesting point given we are to understand that he has been having an affair with a married woman.

At any rate, our choice for Lily would have been Simon Rosendale.


It was not a white Christmas this year, but a cold and dampish one. The tall, old, and empty trees look wonderful under a pale gray sky.

Jehovah made everything so beautifully. If only everyone would look up today and think about the intricate splendour of the trees against the sky and feel moved to find the Maker of this beauty.

If you look for Jehovah, he will let you find him.

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