In A Bottle of Perrier, Edith Wharton tells the story of a young woman, Mary, who is struggling to make her way in the world. She is a talented artist, but her family is poor and she has no money to pursue her dreams. When she meets a wealthy man, Mr. Perrier, who is looking for a companion, she is offered a chance to make a better life for herself. Mary moves into Mr. Perrier's home and soon finds herself in a world of luxury and privilege. She is surrounded by beautiful things and is treated like a princess. But as she gets to know Mr. Perrier, she discovers that he is not the man she thought he was. He is a controlling and manipulative man who is determined to keep her in his power. As Mary struggles to find her place in this new world, she must also confront her own feelings of guilt and shame. She must decide if she is willing to sacrifice her own happiness for the sake of a man who does not truly care for her. In the end, Mary must make a difficult decision that will shape the rest of her life.
By Edith Wharton · First published 1924 · Genre: Realistic Fiction, Romance, Historical Fiction · 6 chapters