False Dawn (The 'Forties)

False Dawn, written by Edith Wharton in the early 20th century, is set in the 1840s and follows Lewis Raycie, a young man caught between his father's expectations and his own artistic instincts. Sent to Europe to purchase art, Lewis chooses Italian primitives, which his father disapproves of, leading to his disinheritance. The novel explores themes of familial conflict, social customs of the wealthy, and the evolving perception of art. Wharton's work provides a critical look at the tensions between tradition and innovation in both family and society.