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Description edit
Mary McCarthy's most celebrated novel portrays the lives, and aspirations of eight Vassar graduates. "The Group" meet in New York following commencement to attend the wedding of one of their members and reconvene seven years later at her funeral. The woman are complicated, compelling, vivid,... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Characters/People edit
- Mary 'Pokey' Prothero: Add a description of this character.
- Dottie Renfrew
- Polly Andrews
- Helena Davison
- Kay Leiland Strong
- Priss Hartshorn
- Libby MacAusland
- Elinor 'Lakey' Eastlake
- Harald Petersen
- Gus Leroy
- Norine
- Dick Brown
- Hatton
- Stephen
- Mrs. Petersen
- Sloan
- Henry
- Miss Swenson
- Mr. Schneider
- Julia
- Mr. Leroy
- Mrs. Prothero
- Jim Ridge
- Miss Mary
- Mrs. Hartshorn
- Nils
- Esther
- Ross
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Forbes
- Dr. Perry
- Dr. Turner
- Maria
- Ichabod
- Mr. Scherbatyeff
- Mr. Blake
Quotes edit
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“"I feel--all of us feel--that love and sex can be two separate things. They don't have to be, but they can be. You mustn't force sex to do the work of love or love to do the work of sex--that's quite a thought, isn't it?"”
Dottie--speaking in her imagination while Dick Brown sleeps -
“"You'd like God to arrange for you to have something that you know would be wrong for you to have if you chose it of your own free will."”
Mrs. Renfrew, counselling Dottie -
“It was the homeliest members of your class who became teachers--admit it."”
Dottie Renfrew to her mother -
“"Stephen shat."”
Norine to Priss (in front of Norine's butler)
First Sentence edit
It was June, 1933, one week after Commencement, when Kay Leiland Strong, Vassar '33, the first of her class to run around the table at the Class Day dinner, was married to Harald Petersen, Reed '27, in the chapel of St. George's Church, P.E., Karl F. Reiland, Rector.
Glossary edit
- mansarding: Referring to a mansard roof--a hip roof having two slopes on each side
- lorgnon: a single or double eyeglass, as a monocle or pince-nez
- pessary: diaphragm: a contraceptive device consisting of a flexible dome-shaped cup made of rubber or plastic
- dipsomaniac: alcoholic: a person who drinks alcohol to excess habitually
- N.R.A.: National Recovery Administration; one of Roosevelt's New Deal programs
- antimacassar: A protective covering for the backs of chairs and sofas
- oestrum: a regularly occurring period of sexual receptivity in most female mammals, except humans, during which ovulation occurs and copulation can take place; heat
- idée fixe: an idea that dominates one's mind especially for a prolonged period : obsession
- daisy chain: such a chain used as a garland or carried on festive days by a group of women college students.
- sang-froid: aplomb: great coolness and composure under strain
- hoi polloi: multitude: the common people generally; "separate the warriors from the mass"
- Dalcroze: Émile Jaques-Dalcroze (July 6, 1865 – July 1, 1950), was a Swiss composer, musician and music educator who developed eurhythmics, a method of learning and experiencing music through movement
- meed: a fitting reward
- canalize: to give a particular direction to or provide an outlet for; channel
- impecunious: without money; penniless
- aureole: a less common word for halo
- nimbus: A splendid atmosphere or aura, as of glamour, that surrounds a person or thing.
- colophon: A publisher's emblem or trademark placed usually on the title page of a book.
- solipsist: One who believes the theory that the self is the only reality.
- liebfraumilch: a style of semi-sweet white German wine which may be produced in the regions Rheinhessen, Palatinate, Rheingau and Nahe. The name is a German word literally meaning "Beloved lady's milk"
- sweet woodruff: a perennial plant, Galium odoratum or Asperula odorata, with small white flowers; the leaves are used for flavouring wines and liqueurs
- May bowle: also known as Maitrank, Maiwein, Maibowle and Waldmeisterbowle, is the name of a German beverage that uses aromatized wine as a base (see sangría). May wine is served in the spring, traditionally on the May Day holiday
- faiblesse: Fr., weakness
- pram: a baby carriage
- dauphin: formerly, the eldest son of the King of France and direct heir to the throne
- silicosis: a lung disease caused by inhaling particles of silica or quartz or slate
- horripiliate: have one's hair stand on end and get goosebumps
- epater: Fr., to impress
- French leave: an abrupt and unannounced departure (without saying farewell)
- otiose: serving no useful purpose; having no excuse for being
- refractory: not responding to treatment; temporarily unresponsive
Series & Lists edit
This book is in Guardian 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read. (authoritative list)
This is book 2 of 10 in Publishers Weekly Bestselling Novels In 1963. (authoritative list)
Preceded by The Shoes of the Fisherman, and followed by Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters / Seymour: An Introduction.
Authors & Contributors edit
- Mary McCarthy (Author)
Awards edit
- National Book Award (Finalist, 1964: Fiction)
Classification edit
- Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
- Dewey: 813.52
Subjects edit
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