The Grey Wig by Israel Zangwill

Name: The Grey Wig
Author: Israel Zangwill

The novel revolves around the life of a young Jewish woman who marries an older man and becomes embroiled in his family's complex dynamics. The story explores themes of identity, culture, and social class through her experiences.

By Israel Zangwill · First published 1881 · Genre: Fiction, Short Stories, Satire · 15 chapters · 13,379 words

First lines

They both styled themselves "Madame," but only the younger of the old ladies had been married. Madame Valiere was still a _demoiselle_, but as she drew towards sixty it had seemed more _convenable_ to possess a mature label. Certainly Madame Depine had no visible matrimonial advantages over her fellow-lodger at the Hotel des Tourterelles, though in the symmetrical cemetery of Montparnasse (Section 22) wreaths of glass beads testified to a copious domesticity in the far past, and a newspaper picture of a _chasseur d'Afrique_ pinned over her bed recalled -- though only the uniform was the dead soldier's -- the son she had contributed to France's colonial empire. Practically it was two old maids -- or two lone widows -- whose boots turned pointed toes towards each other in the dark cranny of the rambling, fusty corridor of the sky-floor. Madame Depine was round, and grew dumpier with age; "Madame" Valiere was long, and grew slimmer. Otherwise their lives ran parallel. For the true madame of the establishment you had to turn to Madame la Proprietaire, with her buxom bookkeeper of a daughter and her tame baggage-bearing husband. This full-blooded, jovial creature, with her swart moustache, represented the only Parisian success of three provincial lives, and, in her good-nature, had permitted her decayed townswomen -- at as low a rent as was compatible with prudence -- to shelter themselves under her roof and as near it as possible. Her house being a profitable warren of American art-students, tempered by native journalists and decadent poets, she could, moreover, afford to let the old ladies off coffee and candles. They were at liberty to prepare their own _dejeuner_ in winter or to buy it outside in summer; they could burn their own candles or sit in the dark, as the heart in them pleased; and thus they were as cheaply niched as any one in the gay city. _Rentieres_ after their meticulous fashion, they drew a ridiculous but regular amount from the mysterious coffers of the Credit Lyonnais.

What this Textopian page supports

The Grey Wig is listed on Textopian as a novel by Israel Zangwill, dated 1881 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Novel
Author: Israel Zangwill
Date: 1881 CE
Language: English
Genres: Fiction, Short Stories, Satire, Social Commentary, Humor
Length: 13,379 words
Structure: 15 chapters, 273 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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Similar titles

Genres

Fiction — The book is a collection of fictional stories exploring various themes and characters.
Short Stories — The book consists of multiple short stories, each with its own narrative and characters.
Satire — The stories often employ satire to critique societal norms and behaviors.
Social Commentary — The narratives provide insights and critiques on social issues and human behavior.