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Parties: Scenes From Contemporary New York Life
Hardcover
General FictionLiterary Fiction
ISBN13: 9781025891705
Publisher: Tradd Street Press
Published: Feb 14 2026
Pages: 280
Weight: 1.25
Height: 0.69 Width: 6.14 Depth: 9.21
Language: English
Parties: Scenes From Contemporary New York Life is a cynical and sparkling exploration of the frantic hedonism that defined the end of the Jazz Age. Set against the backdrop of Prohibition-era New York, Carl Van Vechten's novel captures a social circle of weary socialites, artists, and hangers-on who navigate a relentless cycle of cocktail parties, nightclubs, and fleeting romances. The narrative serves as both a vivid chronicle of a specific cultural moment and a sharp satire of the spiritual vacuity hidden beneath the era's glamour.
Through the eyes of characters like David and Rilda Westcott, the work delves into the complexities of modern relationships and the desperate pursuit of pleasure in a world teetering on the edge of the Great Depression. Van Vechten's prose is noted for its sophistication and its unflinching look at the excesses of Manhattan's elite, touching upon themes of boredom, disillusionment, and the search for identity. Parties: Scenes From Contemporary New York Life remains a significant literary work of urban life in the early 20th century, offering readers a sophisticated glimpse into the cocktails, conversations, and tragedies of a lost generation.
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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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