02343cam a22003013u 45000010005000000030007000050050017000120060002000290070005000310080041000360400011000770410017000880500007001051000039001122450024001512640051001753000047002263360026002733370026002993380036003255000031003615080135003925201344005275340045018716530011019166530072019278560042019996453UtSlPG20260610133153.0mcr n260607r2004||||utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d  aUtSlPG 7aen2iso639-1 4aPS1 aCurtis, George William,d1824-189214aThe Potiphar Papers 1aSalt Lake City, UT :bProject Gutenberg,c2004  a1 online resource :bmultiple file formats  atextbtxt2rdacontent  acomputerbc2rdamedia  aonline resourcebcr2rdacarrier  aRelease date is 2004-09-01  aText file produced by Arno Peters, Charles Franks and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team

HTML file produced by David Widger  a"The Potiphar Papers" by George William Curtis is a satirical novel written in the mid-19th century. The narrative delves into the social dynamics and pretentiousness of affluent upper-class New York society, particularly as it unfolds through the experiences of Mrs. Potiphar and her circle. Central themes include the superficial nature of social status, the absurdity of societal expectations, and the contrast between genuine virtue and artificiality.  At the start of the novel, the editor introduces a letter to the Reverend Cream Cheese, setting a humorous and critical tone towards the nature of societal gatherings, particularly parties hosted by Mrs. Potiphar. The opening explores the excessive decorum and hypocrisies of the so-called "best society," culminating in an account of a grand ball that highlights the emptiness behind the opulence and class distinctions. Characters like Mrs. Potiphar, who is portrayed as both superficial and self-aware, navigate through a labyrinth of social intricacies that dictate their interactions, revealing the hollowness beneath their lavish lifestyles. Through witty observations, Curtis critiques the distinction between meaningful social engagement and shallow extravagance, emphasizing a longing for genuine connection amid the frivolity. (This is an automatically generated summary.)  nOriginal publication data not identified  aSatire  aUnited States -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction40uhttps://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/6453