Edith Wharton was een begaafd romanschrijfster wier werken doordringende inzichten bieden in sociale gewoonten en menselijke relaties. Haar proza, vaak gesitueerd in de hogere kringen van haar tijd, kenmerkt zich door scherpe observatie en een elegante stijl. Wharton verdiepte zich in thema's van het conflict tussen persoonlijke vervulling en maatschappelijke verwachtingen, met name in de context van ongelukkige huwelijken. Haar vermogen om psychologische diepgang weer te geven en de conventies van haar tijd kritisch te becommentariëren, maakt haar tot een belangrijke literaire stem.
"The Hermit and the Wild Woman and Other Stories" by Edith Wharton features a collection of captivating short stories, including titles like "The Hermit and the Wild Woman," "The Last Asset," and "The Best Man." Wharton's storytelling delves into complex themes and rich characterizations throughout the collection.
Since its publication in 1905 The House of Mirth has commanded attention for the sharpness of Wharton's observations and the power of her style. Its heroine, Lily Bart, is beautiful, poor, and unmarried at 29. In her search for a husband with money and position she betrays her own heart and sows the seeds of the tragedy that finally overwhelms her. The House of Mirth is a lucid, disturbing analysis of the stifling limitations imposed upon women of Wharton's generation. Herself born into Old New York Society, Wharton watched as an entirely new set of people living by new codes of conduct entered the metropolitan scene. In telling the story of Lily Bart, who must marry to survive, Wharton recasts the age-old themes of family, marriage, and money in ways that transform the traditional novel of manners into an arresting modern document of cultural anthropology.
Born into wealth and aristocracy, Edith Wharton (1862–1937) was a member as well as an observer of fashionable New York society. Aspirations to authorship consigned her to outsider status among the idle rich; nevertheless, she drew upon her privileged social position to create witty and psychologically insightful novels and short stories about people from all walks of life. This well-rounded introduction to Wharton's works features the complete text of her Pulitzer Prize–winning novel, The Age of Innocence, as well as her haunting novella, Ethan Frome. Several excerpts from her highly influential guide to interior design, The Decoration of Houses, offer samples of Wharton's nonfiction style. The collection also includes four short stories as well as several poems.
Set against the backdrop of a tranquil French landscape on the eve of World War I, the narrative captures a moment of serene beauty and the deep-rooted connection of generations to the land. The author reflects on the contrast between the peaceful surroundings and the ominous whispers of impending conflict. Through vivid imagery, the story evokes the rich history and labor of the countryside, highlighting the tension between the idyllic present and the uncertain future looming over Europe.
The Age of Innocence, Ethan Frome, the House of Mirth, Summer, the Custom of the Cou
Exploring the complexities of upper-class society before World War I, this collection features six of Edith Wharton's most celebrated works. Renowned for her sharp wit and subtle irony, Wharton critiques the social norms and moral dilemmas of her time, providing insight into the lives of her characters. Her storytelling captures the intricacies of human relationships and societal expectations, making this volume a significant contribution to American literature.
Set against the backdrop of early 20th-century New York society, this coming-of-age novel explores themes of social constraints and personal ambition. The protagonist navigates the complexities of wealth, morality, and desire, facing the pressures of societal expectations. Wharton delves into the struggles of women seeking independence and authenticity in a restrictive environment, offering a critical perspective on the era's class dynamics. The narrative challenges conventions, making it a thought-provoking examination of identity and societal roles.
The book aims to contribute to the preservation and repair of original classic literature, reflecting a commitment to maintaining the integrity of timeless works. It emphasizes the importance of safeguarding literary heritage for future generations, ensuring that classic texts remain accessible and intact.
The four novellas collected here, by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Age of Innocence, brilliantly capture New York of the 1840s, '50s, '60s, and '70s. Originally published in 1924, this outstanding quartet includes False Dawn, about a rocky father/son relationship; The Old Maid, the best known of the four, in which a young woman's hidden illegitimate child is adopted by her best friend, with devastating results; The Spark, involving a young man and his moral rehabilitation -- "sparked" by a chance encounter with Walt Whitman; and New Year's Day, an O. Henryesque tale of a married woman suspected of adultery. Each reveals the codes and customs that ruled society of the time, drawn with the perspicacious eye and style that is uniquely Edith Wharton's. Pocket Books' enriched Classics present the great works of world literature enhanced for the contemporary reader. This valume reprints the orginal New York Times Book Review feature on Old New York, a piece that helps fix the stories in the contemporary critical landscape. Also included are critical perspectives, suggestions for further reading, and a visual essay composed of authentic period illustrations and photographs.
Delia rejected passion in favor of a secure marriage but cousin Charlotte followed her own heart, even though it meant remaining unwed and giving up her baby. Charlotte's sacrifice has allowed the child, Tina, an advantageous position in New York City's fashionable society as Delia's adopted daughter. Now Tina's a graceful young woman and ready to marry — and the anguish that Charlotte has long suppressed is ready to explode. In addition to her mastery of the novella, Edith Wharton was a keen observer of her own privileged class. Her skill at capturing telling details of nineteenth-century society elevates this soap-opera scenario of a mother's self-denial into a memorable and compelling drama. First published in serial form in The Red Book Magazine in 1922, the story has since become a classic of American literature and has served as the basis for a Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway play as well as a classic Hollywood film. This edition features an Introduction by Roxana Robinson, author of Cost.
Wharton’s sly and delicious novel about the ambitious social ascent of Undine Spragg, now in a Penguin Vitae edition, with a foreword by Sofia Coppola A Penguin Vitae Edition Considered by many to be her masterpiece, Edith Wharton’s second full-length work is a scathing yet personal examination of the exploits and follies of the modern upper class. As she unfolds the story of Undine Spragg, from New York to Europe, Wharton affords us a detailed glimpse of what might be called the interior décor of this America and its nouveau riche fringes. Through a heroine who is as vain, spoiled, and selfish as she is irresistibly fascinating, and through a most intricate and satisfying plot that follows Undine’s marriages and affairs, she conveys a vision of social behavior that is both supremely informed and supremely disenchanted.
