Custom of the Country (version 2)

Custom of the Country, published in 1913 by Edith Wharton, is a critical examination of American social climbing through the character of Undine Spragg. Originating from the fictional Apex City, Undine seeks wealth and status by navigating the elite circles of New York and Paris, often resorting to multiple marriages and divorces. The novel highlights the moral and social implications of ambition and the pursuit of material success in early 20th-century America.