Mildred Pierce
CRITIQUE | THE TEXT | AT THE MOVIES
First editionFirst publication
1941
Literary form
Novel
Genres
Literary, psychological thriller
Writing language
English
Author's country
United States
Length
Approx. 98,000 words
Notable lines
First line
In the spring of 1931, on a lawn in Glendale, California, a man was bracing trees.
Passages
...as she saw this man slip out of her life, the only clear thought in her head was that now she had no way to deliver the cake.
By nine, Mildred was powdered, puffed, perfumed, and patted to that state of semi-transparency that a woman seems to achieve when she is really dressed to go out.
"But it turned out he wasn't interested in love. He was interested in meat. He said it enriched the tone."
"All coloratura, they got, 'ow you say ? — da gimmies. Always take, never give."
Then she got up, went to Monty's mirror, and began combing her hair, while little cadenzas absentmindedly cascaded out of her throat, and cold drops cascaded over Mildred's heart. For Veda was stark naked. From the massive, singer's torso, with the Dairy quaking in front, to the slim hips, to the lovely legs, there wasn't so much as a garter to hide a path of skin.
Last lines
"Come on, we got each other, haven't we? Let's get stinko."
"Yes—let's get stinko.".
CRITIQUE | THE TEXT | AT THE MOVIES
