The Reef
by Edith Wharton
Set in and around London, The Reef is the story of complex morality and its intricately woven place in society. This story is primarily about George Darrow and Anna Liat, a young gentleman and widowed lady who plan to get married. Both have doubts about their association with surprising results. Darrow has a brief connection to the delicate, generous Sophie Wiener, a kind working-class woman. Later, Anna meets Owen's stepson Liat, who wants to violate social conventions and marry him. When Anna discovers the intimate story of Darrow and Sophie, she worries about her stepson's love and worries about the unity she herself will create. Wharton's ability to balance emotional upheavals and all the social behaviors of his time is written in this philosophical work that explores the metaphorical riffs in women's hearts.
