"The House of Mirth" by Edith Wharton is a gripping novel that follows the tragic fate of Lily Bart, a beautiful and intelligent socialite in early 20th-century New York. Struggling to maintain her privileged lifestyle, Lily becomes entangled in a web of societal expectations, wealth, and secrets. Her pursuit of a wealthy husband leads to a series of missed opportunities and compromising situations, resulting in her gradual social downfall. As she faces moral dilemmas and the consequences of her choices, Wharton skillfully dissects the upper-class society's hypocrisy and materialism. "The House of Mirth" is a powerful commentary on the limitations placed on women during the Gilded Age and a timeless exploration of the human desire for status and acceptance.