Gilded Age: A Novel

Written by Claire McMillan

Narrated by Hillary Huber

Eleanor Hart had made a brilliant marriage in New York, but it ended in a scandalous divorce and thirty days in Sierra Tucson rehab. Now she finds that, despite feminist lip service, she will still need a husband to be socially complete. A woman's sexual reputation matters, and so does her family name. Ellie must navigate the treacherous social terrain where old money meets new: charitable benefits and tequila body shots, inherited diamonds and viper-bite lip piercings, country house weekends and sexting. She finds that her beauty is a powerful tool in this world, but it has its limitations, even liabilities. Through one misstep after another, Ellie mishandles her second act. Her options narrow, her future prospects contract, until she faces a desperate choice.With a keen eye for detail and a heart big enough to embrace those she observes, Claire McMillan has written an assured and revelatory debut novel about class, gender, and the timeless conundrum of femininity.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Jun 12, 2012
• ISBN: 9781452678030

Claire McMillan

Claire McMillan is the author of Alchemy of a Blackbird, Gilded Age, and The Necklace. She was the 2017–2018 Cuyahoga County Writer-in-Residence and currently serves as a member of the board of trustees of The Mount, Edith Wharton’s home in Lenox, Massachusetts. She practiced law until 2003 and then received her MFA in creative writing from Bennington College. She grew up in Pasadena, California, and now lives on her husband’s family farm outside of Cleveland, Ohio, with their two children.

Reviews for Gilded Age

[bookweaver · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Great retake on Wharton

[michigantrumpet_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Retelling of Edith Wharton's House of Mirth, set in the upper reaches of modern era Cleveland, Ohio society. Lily Bart's stand-in is Ellie Hart, newly returned from a disastrous marriage in NYC and a stint in rehab. Wharton's work continues to resonate because of its skewering of Old New York and late 1800's strictures placed on women. It speaks to our advance as a society that McMillan's modern setting rang hollow and less convincing. Despite what the latest reality shows may advance, today's women, even of high social standing, aren't simply bred for marriage and being decorative. Perhaps Ellie Hart's fate is more tragic because of this. Wish I JD enjoyed it more. Perhaps, I'm too much of a Wharton fan to accept this imitation.

[melissarochelle_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Definitely a quick read, but a little depressing. I shouldn't be surprised by this though since my only experience with a Wharton tale was really sad...just not this sad.If you want an interesting, but dark poolside read this is your book.

[katherinegregg · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Gilded Age was a quick and easy read, fairly well written, but nothing I would write home about. Still I finished the book, spurred on by the delicious gossip of high society Cleveland. Inspired by Edith Wharton, Claire McMillan loosely based the character of Ellie Hart, the protagonist, on Lily Bart. The characters in Gilded Age live a life of luxury and old money in Shaker Heights, the fancy part of Cleveland. Ellie returns to her home town after a divorce and a stint in rehab. Forever beautiful and desirable, Ellie continues to fall off the wagon and make bad choices which she pays dearly for. Although predictable, the ending seemed a bit macabre and extreme compared to the rest of the book.

[theloislevel · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Great retake on Wharton

[bearette24 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book is so fun, dishy and gossipy, a la Sex and the City, but set in Cleveland. I really enjoyed the author's sharp observations of the social set in that city. And Ellie, on the hunt for a rich husband, and often self-sabotaging, is a delight. The Gilded Age did remind me of Edith Wharton, but more upbeat.