Best Selling Books by Edith Wharton

Chapter 1 Selden paused in surprise. In the afternoon rush of the Grand Central Station his eyes had been refreshed by the sight of Miss Lily Bart. It was a Monday in early September, and he was returning to his work from a hurried dip into the country; but what was Miss Bart doing in town at that season? If she had appeared to be catching a train, he might have inferred that he had come on her in the act of transition between one and another of the country-houses which disputed her presence after the close of the Newport season; but her desultory air perplexed him. She stood apart from the crowd, letting it drift by her to the platform or the street, and wearing an air of irresolution which might, as he surmised, be the mask of a very definite purpose. It struck him at once that she was waiting for some one, but he hardly knew why the idea arrested him. There was nothing new about Lily Bart, yet he could never see her without a faint movement of interest: it was characteristic of her that she always roused speculation, that her simplest acts seemed the result of far-reaching intentions. An impulse of curiosity made him turn out of his direct line to the door, and stroll past her. He knew that if she did not wish to be seen she would contrive to elude him; and it amused him to think of putting her skill to the test. "Mr. Selden—what good luck!" She came forward smiling, eager almost, in her resolve to intercept him. One or two persons, in brushing past them, lingered to look; for Miss Bart was a figure to arrest even the suburban traveller rushing to his last train. Selden had never seen her more radiant. Her vivid head, relieved against the dull tints of the crowd, made her more conspicuous than in a ball-room, and under her dark hat and veil she regained the girlish smoothness, the purity of tint, that she was beginning to lose after eleven years of late hours and indefatigable dancing. Was it really eleven years, Selden found himself wondering, and had she indeed reached the nine-and-twentieth birthday with which her rivals credited her?

"As the scion of one of New York''s leading families, Newland Archer has been born into a life of sumptuous privilege and strict duty. Sensitive and intelligent, he respects the rigid social codes of his class, and is thankful that his forthcoming marriage to May Welland is to ''one of his own kind''. But the arrival of the Countess Olenska, a free spirit who breathes clouds of European sophistication, makes him question the path on which his upbringing has set him. As his fascination with her grows he discovers how difficult it is to escape the bounds of the society that has shaped him. Wharton''s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel is at once a poignant story of frustrated love and an extraordinarily vivid, delightfully satirical portrait of a vanished world."--Publisher''s website.

In "The Choice," Edith Wharton intricately explores the complexities of love, marriage, and personal ambition through the narrative of a young woman confronted with pivotal life decisions. Wharton''s literary style is characterized by her keen psychological insight and elegant prose, shedding light on the societal constraints of her time while examining intimate emotions. Set against the backdrop of early 20th-century America, the novella encapsulates the tensions between individual desires and societal expectations, revealing the nuanced interplay of choice and consequence in the search for fulfillment. Edith Wharton, the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, drew from her own experiences as a member of the American upper class, which grants her a unique lens through which to critique the social mores of her time. Her diverse literary career ranges from profound novels such as "The Age of Innocence" to her keenly observed short stories, providing a rich framework for her exploration of the inner lives of her characters. Wharton''s focus on the female experience reflects both her personal struggles and her advocacy for women''s autonomy in a patriarchal society. Readers captivated by Wharton''Äôs previous works will find "The Choice" a compelling addition to her oeuvre, providing a thought-provoking examination of the dilemmas faced by women in their pursuit of self-determination. This novella is recommended not only for its literary merit but also for its timeless relevance, resonating with contemporary discussions on agency and identity.

In "Kerfol," Edith Wharton presents a haunting narrative that intertwines themes of love, loss, and the supernatural within the somber backdrop of a decaying French estate. Employing a rich, atmospheric prose steeped in Gothic tradition, Wharton''s story unfolds through the voice of a nameless narrator drawn to a mysterious manor once inhabited by a tragic love affair. The novella''s eerie tones and vivid imagery reflect Wharton''s sophisticated literary style, revealing her deep engagement with psychological complexity and spectral motifs, while also engaging with contemporary concerns of social class and gender roles. Edith Wharton, a luminary of early 20th-century literature, often drew inspiration from her own privileged upbringing and acute observations of society''s intricacies. "Kerfol" was inspired by Wharton''Äôs fascination with the history and decay of old estates in Europe, reflecting her own experiences as an expatriate in France. Her profound understanding of human emotions, coupled with personal encounters with romance and betrayal, shaped her narratives, allowing readers to navigate the intricate interplay between the living and the dead. "Kerfol" is a must-read for enthusiasts of Gothic literature and admirers of Wharton''s oeuvre. Its exploration of the shadows that linger in the past not only captivates the imagination but also prompts introspection on human desires and regrets. This novella encapsulates Wharton''s gift for storytelling, making it an essential addition to any literary collection.

The Age of Innocence is a 1920 novel by American author Edith Wharton. It was her twelfth novel, and was initially serialized in 1920 in four parts, in the magazine Pictorial Review. Later that year, it was released as a book by D. Appleton & Company. It won the 1921 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, making Wharton the first woman to win the prize. Though the committee had initially agreed to give the award to Sinclair Lewis for Main Street, the judges, in rejecting his book on political grounds, "established Wharton as the American ''First Lady of Letters''". The story is set in the 1870s, in upper-class, "Gilded-Age" New York City. Wharton wrote the book in her 50s, after she had established herself as a strong author, with publishers clamoring for her work

Ethan Frome is an isolated farmer trying to scrape out a meager living while also tending to his frigid, demanding and ungrateful wife, Zeena. A ray of hope enters Ethan''s life of despair when his wife''s cousin Mattie arrives to help.

Essays on the craft of fiction writing from the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize, for her novel The Age of Innocence. In The Writing of Fiction,Edith Wharton, a prolific writer and one of the twentieth century’s greatest authors, shares her thoughts on fiction writing, devoting individual chapters to short stories and novels. She stresses the importance of writers putting thought into how they build their story, from selecting subject matter and fashioning characters to crafting situations and settings. She explores the history of modern fiction and the contributions of Honoré de Balzac and Stendhal. She even examines the difference between literary and commercial fiction, as well as the work of Marcel Proust. Although Wharton passed away in 1937, her advice here endures and is bound to inspire writers for ages to come. “In The Writing of Fiction Edith Wharton gives us not only a period-appropriate glimpse into the mind of an exceptionally creative writer but also an appreciation for the thoughtfulness and discipline she brought to her craft. We are fortunate she was willing to share her observations.” —Ralph White, author of Litchfield

In her novel "Summer," Edith Wharton explores the complexities of desire, social convention, and individual freedom against the backdrop of New England''s natural beauty. The narrative follows the introspective protagonist, Charity Royall, as she grapples with her passion and ambition, caught between her innate desires and the constraints of her small-town upbringing. Wharton employs a lyrical yet incisive style, imbued with rich descriptions and psychological depth, which deftly illuminates the struggle of a young woman seeking autonomy in a patriarchal society. The work resonates with themes of social class and moral ambiguity, reflective of Wharton''s own critiques of the American elite during the early 20th century. Edith Wharton, a trailblazer in American literature and the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, also drew from her privileged social background, allowing her insights into the constraints of societal expectations. Having navigated both high society and the burgeoning modern world, Wharton''s lived experiences informed her writings, imbuing her characters with a sense of realism and emotional depth that continues to resonate with readers today. "Summer" is highly recommended for those seeking to understand the nuanced interplay of personal aspiration and societal limitation. Wharton''s exploration of a woman''s quest for self-identity is not only compelling but also remains strikingly relevant, inviting readers to reflect on the eternal conflicts between desire and duty in their own lives.

The Age of Innocence is a 1920 novel by American author Edith Wharton. It was her twelfth novel, and was initially serialized in 1920 in four parts, in the magazine Pictorial Review. Later that year, it was released as a book by D. Appleton & Company. It won the 1921 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, making Wharton the first woman to win the prize.[1] Though the committee had initially agreed to give the award to Sinclair Lewis for Main Street, the judges, in rejecting his book on political grounds, "established Wharton as the American ''First Lady of Letters''".[2] The story is set in the 1870s, in upper-class, "Gilded-Age" New York City. Wharton wrote the book in her 50s, after she had established herself as a strong author, with publishers clamoring for her work

Newland Archer, the ambivalent protagonist, represents the apogee of good breeding. He is the ultimate insider in post-Civil War New York society. Although engaged to May Welland, a beautiful and proper fellow member of elite society, he is attracted to the free-spirited Countess Ellen Olenska, May''s cousin and a former member of their circle who has been living in Europe but has left her husband, a cruel Polish nobleman, under mysterious circumstances and returned to her family''s New York milieu. His upcoming marriage to the young socialite will unite two of New York''s oldest families, but from the novel''s opening pages, Olenska imports a passionate intensity and mysterious Old World eccentricity that disrupt the conventional world of order-obsessed New York. Ellen''s hopes of being set free from her past are dashed when she is forced to choose between conformity and exile, while Newland''s appointment by the Welland family as Ellen''s legal consultant begins an emotional entanglement the force of which he could never have imagined.

From first to last, poetry was part of Edith Wharton''s writing life. Whilerarely (after early youth) her primary focus, it always served her as a medium for recording the most vivid impressions and emotions, an intimate journal of longings and regrets. "Poetry was important to Wharton," writeseditor Louis Auchincloss, "because it enabled her to express the deeply emotional side of her nature that she kept under such tight control, not only in her life but in the ordered sweep of her fiction." In later years her poetry also engaged with the public passions of wartime, as she found herself involved with the plight of Allied soldiers in France. Her first models were Romantic, but in the course of her life she absorbed the influences of Symbolism and Modernism; and throughout her poetic career she showed a care for form even in her most private utterances, as in the erotic ode "Terminus," never published in her lifetime. This volume collects the bulk of Wharton''s significant poetry, including much work previously uncollected or unpublished.

Reproduction of the original: Artemis to Actaeon by Edith Wharton

These carefully chosen selections from Edith Wharton''s travel writing convey the writer''s control of her craft. Wharton disliked the generality of guidebooks and focused instead on the "parentheses of travel"--the undiscovered hidden corners of Europe, Morocco, and the Mediterranean. Included is an excerpt from Wharton''s unpublished memoir, The Cruise of Vanadis, as well as front line depictions of Lorraine and the Vosges during World War I. Photos.

Edith Newbold Jones was born in New York on January 24, 1862. Born into wealth this background of privilege allowed her to write critic novels and stories about it culminating in her Pulitzer Prize winning novel ''The Age Of Innocence''. Marriage to Edward Robbins Wharton, who was 12 years older in 1885 allowed her to travel extensively. It was shortly apparent that her husband suffered from acuter depression and so the travelling ceased and they retired to The Mount, their estate designed by Edith Wharton . By 1908 his state was said to be incurable and prior to divorcing Edwards in 1913 she began an affair, in 1908, with Morton Fullerton, a Times journalist, who was her intellectual equal and allowed her writing talents to push forward and write the novels for which she is so well known. Acknowledged as one of the great American writers with novels such as Ethan Frome and the House Of Mirth among many. Wharton also wrote many short stories, including ghost stories and poems which we look at here in this volume. Edith Wharton died of a stroke in 1937 at the Domaine Le Pavillon Colombe, her 18th-century house on Rue de Montmorency in Saint-Brice-sous-Foret."

The Age of Innocence centers on one society couple''s impending marriage and the introduction of a scandalous woman whose presence threatens their happiness. Though the novel questions the assumptions and mores of turn of the century New York society, it never devolves into an outright condemnation of the institution. In fact, Wharton considered this novel an "apology" for the earlier, more brutal and critical, "The House of Mirth". Not to be overlooked is the author''s attention to detailing the charms and customs of this caste. The novel is lauded for its accurate portrayal of how the nineteenth-century East Coast American upper class lived and this combined with the social tragedy earned Wharton a Pulitzer - the first Pulitzer awarded to a woman.

The House of Mirth is a 1905 novel by the American author Edith Wharton. It tells the story of Lily Bart, a well-born but impoverished woman belonging to New York City''s high society around the turn of the last century.[a] Wharton creates a portrait of a stunning beauty who, though raised and educated to marry well both socially and economically, is reaching her 29th year, an age when her youthful blush is drawing to a close and her marital prospects are becoming ever more limited. The House of Mirth traces Lily''s slow two-year social descent from privilege to a tragically lonely existence on the margins of society. In the words of one scholar, Wharton uses Lily as an attack on "an irresponsible, grasping and morally corrupt upper class.

The House of Joy is Edith Wharton''s second novel, published in 1905 and after her first book, Sanctuary, as well as the title of the film that narrates the personal drama of a graceful woman in high society in New York at the beginning of the twentieth century.Includes a biography of the author.

Summer is a novel by Edith Wharton published in 1917 by Charles Scribner''s Sons. The story is one of only two novels by Wharton to be set in New England, who was best known for her portrayals of upper class New York society. The novel details the sexual awakening of its protagonist, Charity Royall, and shares many plot similarities with Wharton''s better known novel, Ethan Frome. Only moderately well-received when originally published, Summer has had a resurgence in critical popularity since the 1960''s

The Age of Innocence is Edith Wharton''s twelfth novel, initially serialized in four parts in the Pictorial Review magazine in 1920, and later released by D. Appleton and Company as a book in New York and in London. It won the 1921 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, making Wharton the first woman to win the prize.Though the committee initially agreed to award the prize to Sinclair Lewis, the judges rejected his Main Street on political grounds and "established Wharton as the American ''First Lady of Letters''", the irony being that the committee had awarded The Age of Innocence the prize on grounds that negated Wharton''s own blatant and subtle ironies, which constitute and make the book so worthy of attention. The story is set in upper-class New York City in the 1870s, during the Gilded Age. Wharton wrote the book in her 50s, after she had established herself as a strong author with publishers clamoring for her work.

Let enjoy! your favorite classic book with nice matte cover.If you love reading books with a cup of tea or coffee on your holiday. This should be yours.Good day.

The Age of Innocence is a 1920 novel by American author Edith Wharton. It was her twelfth novel, and was initially serialized in 1920 in four parts, in the magazine Pictorial Review. Later that year, it was released as a book by D. Appleton & Company. It won the 1921 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, making Wharton the first woman to win the prize. Though the committee had initially agreed to give the award to Sinclair Lewis for Main Street, the judges, in rejecting his book on political grounds, "established Wharton as the American ''First Lady of Letters''".The story is set in the 1870s, in upper-class, "Gilded-Age" New York City. Wharton wrote the book in her 50s, after she had established herself as a strong author, with publishers clamoring for her work.

The Age of Innocence is a 1920 novel by American author Edith Wharton. It was her twelfth novel, and was initially serialized in 1920 in four parts, in the magazine Pictorial Review. Later that year, it was released as a book by D. Appleton & Company. It won the 1921 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, making Wharton the first woman to win the prize.This Age of Innocence, set for Wharton''s childhood, is softer than Wharton''s House of Merith published in 1905.In her autobiography, Wharton wrote of The Age of Innocence that it had allowed her to find "a momentary escape in going back to my childish memories of a long-vanished America... it was growing more and more evident that the world I had grown up in and been formed by had been destroyed in 1914."Experts and readers alike agree that An Age of Innocence is basically a story that struggles to reconcile the old with the new.