Reconsidering Mary McCarthy’s Iconic Friendship Novel The Group
Mary McCarthy's novel, The Group, explores the lives of eight college friends navigating adulthood in New York City. Published in 1963, it offers a biting social commentary on the challenges faced by educated women in a pre-feminist era. The novel's blend of humor and serious themes has made it a significant work in American literature.
- ▪The Group tells the story of eight Vassar graduates who strive to be modern women in New York City.
- ▪Published in the same year as Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique, the novel addresses the costs of ambition for women.
- ▪McCarthy's work was highly autobiographical, reflecting her own experiences and the dynamics of her social circle.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Just after my novel, Talking to the Wolf, was accepted for publication, I picked up Mary McCarthy’s novel, The Group for the first time. In my own novel, a friend breakup and untimely death changes everything for four women. These lifelong friends are heading to their 35th high school reunion dragging the overstuffed, invisible suitcases of middle age—including the ghost. I had heard of The Group before – wasn’t it best known for shocking sex scenes among the New York elite? While there were some parallels with the novel I had just written, I really grabbed a copy of The Group hoping for some titillation.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Literary Hub.
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