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False Dawn: The 'Forties
Paperback
Classic FictionHistorical FictionLiterary Fiction
ISBN13: 9781025652597
Publisher: Tradd Street Press
Published: Feb 14 2026
Pages: 156
Weight: 0.50
Height: 0.33 Width: 6.14 Depth: 9.21
Language: English
False Dawn (The 'Forties) is a sophisticated novella by the acclaimed author Edith Wharton, forming the first part of her celebrated Old New York quartet. Set against the rigid social landscape of the 1840s, the story centers on Lewis Raycie, a young man sent by his overbearing father on a Grand Tour of Europe. His specific mandate is to curate a gallery of traditional Italian masterpieces to enhance the family's prestige. However, after encountering new artistic perspectives abroad, Lewis chooses instead to invest in then-unfashionable Italian Primitives, a decision that pits his personal integrity against the narrow-minded expectations of New York society.
Wharton brilliantly portrays the clash between generational duty and the birth of modern aesthetic sensibility. The narrative examines how social status and wealth dictate the boundaries of taste, and the tragic consequences for those who dare to look beyond the conventions of their era. With its sharp wit and insightful characterizations, False Dawn (The 'Forties) offers a compelling look at the cultural evolution of America and the enduring conflict between artistic vision and social conformity. This work stands as a testament to Wharton's mastery of the social novel and her deep understanding of the human condition within the confines of tradition.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
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