The Late George Apley

The Late George Apley

Company type	Novel
Industry	Literature
Founded	1937
Founder	John Phillips Marquand
Products	Satirical novel

The Late George Apley is a 1937 novel written by John Phillips Marquand that offers a satirical portrayal of Boston's aristocracy during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The protagonist, George Apley, is a Harvard-educated member of the WASP elite who lives on Beacon Hill in central Boston. Presented in an epistolary format, the narrative primarily consists of correspondence addressed to and from Apley, framed as "A Novel in the Form of a Memoir" by his biographer.

This book represented Marquand's initial major literary achievement, marking a departure from his prior popular Mr. Moto espionage stories. It achieved bestseller status and was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for the Novel in 1938. Years later, The New Yorker hailed it as the finest crafted fictional tribute to the nation's Protestant elite.

Taking place in the early 1930s, the plot centers on John Apley, a prosperous Bostonian who commissions a writer named Willing to compose an honest biography of his late father, George. Willing, used to writing polished eulogies, feels apprehensive about disclosing unvarnished aspects of George's life but consents to the project.

Through personal letters, Willing recounts George Apley’s 66 years, frequently expressing respect for Apley's public contributions while regretting the revelation of sensitive family issues. He embodies a longing for a time when social decorum took precedence over individual fulfillment and private difficulties remained hidden.

George Apley is depicted as a multifaceted character—both witty and empathetic—struggling with his conflicted feelings about upholding or rejecting his privileged Boston lineage.

The novel was later transformed into a Broadway play in 1944 and a 1947 film featuring Ronald Colman. Between 1955 and 1957, 20th Century Fox developed a television series starring Raymond Massey and Joanne Woodward.