Edith Wharton Boeken

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.

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.

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.

Edith Wharton, a prominent American writer of the Gilded Age, expertly depicted the complexities of upper-class New York life. Her insider perspective informed her acclaimed works, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Age of Innocence, and other notable titles like The House of Mirth and Ethan Frome. Wharton's prolific output includes 15 novels, seven novellas, and numerous short stories, alongside contributions to poetry, design, travel, and literary criticism. She was recognized for her achievements with induction into the National Women's Hall of Fame.

"Old New York" (1924) by Edith Wharton is a collection of four novellas set in upper-class New York City during the 1840s to 1870s. These stories explore themes of infidelity, jealousy, and class, showcasing Wharton's sharp social insights and character examinations. Included tales are "False Dawn," "The Old Maid," "The Spark," and "New Year's Day."

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.

Edith Wharton, the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize, vividly reflects on her public and private life in this stunning memoir. With richness and delicacy, it describes the sophisticated New York society in which Wharton spent her youth, and chronicles her travels throughout Europe and her literary success as an adult. Beautifully depicted are her friendships with many of the most celebrated artists and writers of her day, including her close friend Henry James. In his introduction to this edition, Louis Auchincloss calls the writing in A Backward Glance “as firm and crisp and lucid as in the best of her novels.” It is a memoir that will charm and fascinate all readers of Wharton’s fiction.

Edith Wharton, an influential American writer of the Gilded Age, expertly depicted the lives and morals of the upper-class New York society. Notably, she was the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize in Literature in 1921 for The Age of Innocence. Her extensive body of work includes 15 novels, seven novellas, and numerous short stories, alongside contributions to poetry, design, and cultural criticism. Wharton's late start in novel writing did not hinder her prolific career, which earned her a place in the National Women's Hall of Fame in 1996.