Xingu - Edith Wharton - ★★★★

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AUTHOR: Edith Wharton

GENRE: Short Story, Classic.
RATING: 4 stars.

A satirical short story focussing on the pretentious attitude of a group of women in an elite club.

‘The Lunch Club’ was founded by a few “huntresses of erudition” to pursue culture as a group. After a few successful years, they now host distinguished strangers to further their quest for knowledge. The only thorn in the side of this all-women group is Mrs. Roby, whose membership had been accepted on recommendation of an erudite professor, but who was now proving to be a hurdle in the club’s intellectual pursuits. When noted author Osric Dane visits the club as an esteemed guest, the visit turns out quite the opposite of what was expected as Dane too turns out to be a cultural snob. Somehow, the topic of ‘Xingu’ comes up for discussion. Each woman is now determined to prove that she is familiar with the offbeat topic. So what is Xingu? Read and find out.

The writing starts off slowly, but Wharton does a splendid job of providing the detailed background, such that when Osric Dane’s visit starts in the second section, we can understand and even predict the manner of thinking of the six club members. The tempo builds up slowly and steadily. The ending, while somewhat foreseeable, is fun!

This little story was first published in 1916, but it looks like some of its members’ snooty attitudes are prevalent even now. Their game of one-upmanship (or perhaps I should say, one-upwomanship) is so common even nowadays with a few book club members who consider themselves superior to others for having read “serious books” or nonfiction.

Definitely recommended to classic fiction lovers and satire fans. Keep your patience at the start of this short tale, and the ending will prove your effort worthwhile.

As the story is now in the public domain, you can read it online on various sites. I used the below link:

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/24131/24131-h/24131-h.htm

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