
As the critic Rob Nelson wrote: “The ‘masterpiece’s tasteful reserve–the aesthetic that allows the comfy feeling that the plight of characters in corsets and cummerbunds has little to do with our own–remains in aptly short supply.” Davies also refrains from the excessive voice-over narration (by Joanne Woodward) that marred Scorsese’s Age of Innocence, an over-stylized feature to begin with, made even more detached by the mediated narrator. Viewers expecting a middlebrow Merchant-Ivory production (“Room with a View,” “Howards End”) or Masterpiece Theatre style were disappointed with Davies’ version. Davies treats with respect but not slavish reverence this novel of mores and manners, which was Wharton’s first important fiction. It is a vivid and immersive portrayal of New York City's high society, and serves as a window into the lives and struggles of its characters.Adapted for the screen from Edith Wharton’s beloved 1905 novel, Terence Davies The House of Mirth is a much stronger film than his previous feature, “The Neon Bible.” It is also more satisfying than “The Age of Innocence,” Scorsese’s 1993 version of Edith Wharton’s other famous book. Overall, the setting of "House of Mirth" plays a crucial role in the story, highlighting the social and cultural values of the time period and the difficulties faced by women trying to navigate this society. She is expected to marry a wealthy man and become a wife and mother, rather than pursuing her own interests or desires. Lily is constantly being judged and scrutinized by society, and she is expected to conform to certain standards of behavior and appearance. The setting of the novel is also significant in terms of the expectations placed on women in this time period. Despite her best efforts, she is unable to marry into wealth and must rely on her charm and wit to try to climb the social ladder. She is beautiful and intelligent, but she is also poor and has little social standing. The main character, Lily Bart, is a young woman who is struggling to find her place in this society. The characters in the novel are all members of this social class, and their status and reputation are closely tied to their wealth and position in society. New York City during this time was a hub of culture and wealth, with a thriving social scene that revolved around the city's elite.

The setting of the novel is a crucial aspect of the story, as it reflects the social and cultural values of the time period. The story takes place in the late 19th century in New York City and its wealthy, upper-class society.

The "House of Mirth" is a novel written by Edith Wharton and first published in 1905.
