The Glimpses of the Moon

“A Master Storyteller.” —Elizabeth Strout

First published in 1922, ‘The Glimpses of the Moon’ is an elegant and insightful novel by Edith Wharton that explores love, marriage, and societal expectations during the Jazz Age. The story centers on Nick Lansing and Susy Branch, who marry out of financial necessity rather than love. Both burdened by debts, they agree to live modestly until their fortunes improve, planning to part ways afterward.
As they navigate their unconventional arrangement, unexpected feelings emerge, challenging their initial plans and revealing the complexities of human connection. Wharton’s sharp social commentary and vivid characterizations highlight the tension between personal desires and societal pressures in post-World War I America.
Balancing humor and melancholy, ‘The Glimpses of the Moon’ is a poignant exploration of commitment, independence, and the search for genuine happiness. It remains a timeless work that showcases Wharton’s literary brilliance and her keen understanding of human relationships amid changing social landscapes.

Edith Wharton was an American writer and designer. Wharton drew upon her insider's knowledge of the upper-class New York "aristocracy" to portray, realistically, the lives and morals of the Gilded Age. In 1921, she became the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction, for her novel, The Age of Innocence. She was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame, in 1996. Her other well-known works are The House of Mirth, the novella Ethan Frome, and several notable ghost stories.