The Valley of Decision

Edith Wharton, an influential American novelist and designer, expertly depicted the lives and values of the Gilded Age elite, drawing on her intimate understanding of New York's upper class. Her literary contributions earned her the distinction of being the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Literature in 1921. In recognition of her impact, she was posthumously inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 1996, solidifying her legacy as a pioneer in American literature.