Product Description
The 1920s novel of a passion threatened by convention and played outagainst a backdrop of New York City-s upper class, unimaginable wealth,and unavoidable tragedy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Love, Loneliness, and the Strictures of Society.
Imagine living in a world where life is governed by intricate rituals; a world "balanced so precariously that its harmony [can] be shattered by a whisper" (Wharton); a world ruled by self-declared experts on form, propriety and family history - read: scandal -; where everything is labeled and yet, people are not; where in order not to disturb society's smooth surface nothing is ever expressed or even thought of directly, and where communication occurs almost exclusively by way of symbols, which are unknown to the outsider and, like any secret code, by their very encryption guarantee his or her permanent exclusion.

Such, in faithful imitation of Victorian England, was the society of late 19th century upper class New York. Into this society returns, after having grown up and lived all her adult life in Europe, American-born Countess Ellen Olenska, after leaving a cruel and uncaring husband. She already causes scandal by the mere manner of her return; but not knowing the secret rituals of the society she has entered, she quickly brings herself further into disrepute by receiving an unmarried man, by being seen in the company of a man only tolerated by virtue of his financial success and his marriage to the daughter of one of this society's most respected families, by arriving late to a dinner in which she has expressly been included to rectify a prior general snub, by leaving a drawing room conversation to instead join a gentleman sitting by himself - and worst of all, by openly contemplating divorce, which will most certainly open up a whole Pandora's box of "oddities" and "unpleasantness:" the strongest terms ever used to express moral disapproval in this particular social context. Soon Ellen, who hasn't seen such façades even in her husband's household, finds herself isolated and, wondering whether noone is ever interested in the truth, complains bitterly that "[t]he real loneliness here is living among all these kind people who only ask you to pretend."

Ellen finds a kindred soul in attorney Newland Archer, her cousin May Welland's fiancé, who secretly toys with a more liberal stance, while outwardly endorsing the value system of the society he lives in. Newland and Ellen fall in love - although not before he has advised her, on his employer's and May and Ellen's family's mandate, not to pursue her plans of divorce. As a result, Ellen becomes unreachable to him, and he flees into accelerating his wedding plans with May, who before he met Ellen in his eyes stood for everything that was good and noble about their society, whereas now he begins to see her as a shell whose interior he is reluctant to explore for fear of finding merely a kind of serene emptiness there; a woman whose seemingly dull, passive innocence grinds down every bit of roughness he wants to maintain about himself and who, as he realizes even before marrying her, will likely bury him alive under his own future. Then his passion for Ellen is rekindled by a meeting a year and a half after his wedding, and an emotional conflict they could hardly bear when he was not yet married escalates even further. And only when it is too late for all three of them he finds out that his wife had far more insight (and almost ruthless cleverness) than he had ever credited her with.

Winner of the 1921 Pulitzer Prize and the first work of fiction written by a woman to be awarded that distinction, "The Age of Innocence" is one of Edith Wharton's most enduringly popular novels; the crown jewel among her subtly satirical descriptions of New York upper class society. By far not as overtly condemning and cynical as the earlier "House of Mirth" (for which Wharton reportedly even saw this later work as a sort of apology), "The Age of Innocence" is a masterpiece of characterization and social study alike: an intricate canvas painted by a master storyteller who knew the society which she described inside out, and who, even though she had moved to France (where she would continue living for the rest of her life) almost a decade earlier, was able to delineate late 19th century New York society's every nuance in pitch-perfect detail, while at the same time - seemingly without any effort at all - also blending together all these minute details into an impeccably composed ensemble that will stay with the reader long after he has turned the last page.

Also recommended:
Wharton: Four Novels (Library of America College Editions)
Edith Wharton:Vol 1. Collected Stories:1891-1910 (Library of America)
Edith Wharton: Vol.2 Collected Stories 1911-1937 (Library of America)
Henry James : Novels 1881-1886: Washington Square, The Portrait of a Lady, The Bostonians (Library of America)
Henry James: Novels 1901-1902: The Sacred Fount / The Wings of the Dove (Library of America)
Ethan Frome
The House of Mirth
Washington Square
The Portrait of a Lady
The Wings of the Dove

Passion and the outsider
It was a glittering, sumptuous time when hypocrisy was expected, discreet infidelity tolerated, and unconventionality ostracized.

That is the Gilded Age, and nobody knew its hypocrises better than Edith Wharton.... and nobody portrayed them as well. "The Age of Innocence" is a trip back in time to the stuffy upper crust of "old New York," taking us through one respectable man's hopeless love affair with a beautiful woman -- and the life he isn't brave enough to have.

Newland Archer, of a wealthy old New York family, has become engaged to pretty, naive May Welland. But as he tries to get their wedding date moved up, he becomes acquainted with May's exotic cousin, Countess Ellen Olenska, who has returned home after dumping her cheating husband. At first, the two are just friends, but Newland becomes more and more entranced by the Countess' easy, free-spirited European charm.

After Newland marries May, the attraction to the mysterious Countess and her free, unconventional life becomes even stronger. He starts to rebel in little ways, but he's still mired in a 100% conventional marriage, job and life. Will he become an outcast and go away with the beautiful countess, or will he stick with May and the safe, dull life that he has condemned in others?

There's nothing too scandalous about "Age of Innocence" in a time when starlets acquire and discard boyfriends and husbands like old pantyhose -- it probably wasn't in the 1920s when it was first published. But then, this isn't a book about sexiness and steam -- it's part bittersweet romance, part social satire, and a look at what happens when human beings lose all spontaneity and passion.

Part of this is due to Wharton's portrayal of New York in the 1870s -- opulent, cultured, pleasant, yet so tied up in tradition that few people in it are able to really open up and live. It's a haze of ballrooms, gardens, engagements, and careful social rituals that absolutely MUST be followed, even if they have no meaning. It's a place "where the real thing was never said or done or even thought."

And Wharton writes distant, slightly mocking prose that outlines this sheltered little society. Her writing opens as slowly and beautifully as a rosebud, letting subtle subplots, poetic prose and powerful, hidden emotions drive the story. So don't be discouraged by the endless conversations about flowers, ballrooms, gloves and old family scandals that don't really matter anymore -- they are trappings to the story, and convey the stuffy life that Newland is struggling to escape.

In the middle of all this, Newland is a rather dull, intelligent young man who thinks he's unconventional. But he becomes more interesting as he struggles between his conscience and his longing for the Countess. And as "Age of Innocence" winds on, you gradually see that he doesn't truly love the Countess, but what she represents -- freedom from society and convention.

The other two angles of this love triangle are May and Ellen. May is (suitably) pallid and rather dull, though she shows some different sides in the last few chapters. And Ellen is a magnificent character -- alluring, mysterious, but also bewildered by New York's hostility to her ways. And she's even more interesting when you realize that she isn't trying to rebel, but simply being herself.

"Age of Innocence" is a subtle look at life in Gilded Age New York, telling the story of a man desperately in love with a way of life he hasn't got the courage to pursue. Exquisite in its details, painful in its beauty. ... Read more

Product Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Edith Wharton's Greatest Book
I have to admit that it took me awhile to get into this book. But when it turned, it had my mind absorbed in every paragraph. Line for line, this may be the best book I have ever read. It stands up today every bit as it must have at the turn of the century. I am truly at a loss as to whom I should read next. Where do I go after reading her? ... Read more

Product Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Good View of Aristocratic Life
This was a good depiction of the ostensibly innocent arsitocractic society in the early 20th century. Wharton applies masterful irony but the ending lacks her usualy craft. A decent read about a man who doesn't know what he wants and his wife who just wants him to be happy.

A book about the Meaning of Life
Newland Archer has it all -- he's wealthy, well respected in New York Society, and has recently become engaged to the lovely, if predictable, May Welland.All in all, he's pretty well contented with life.Until the mysterious Countess Ellen Olenska arrives.The young Ellen used to be an unexceptional part of Society, until she traveled to Europe and met and married her Polish Count.Now she's left the Count and is trying to rejoin Society.From the first, Newland finds himself fascinated with her.Her total disregard for the niceties of Society bring into sharp contrast how confined he and and the rest of Society are by what's "Proper".Now Newland faces a choice -- marry sweet, proper, boring May Welland, or throw it all away for a chance with Ellen.

Leaves the reader pondering...
This novel reminded me somewhat of themes from The Portrait of a Lady and Anna Karenina.My only complaint about this story was that sometimes the details of family connections, societal expectations, details of dress and dinner parties etc became tedious to read.The author could've painter in broader strokes and the reader would've understood the point without being bogged down in details.Newland Archer faces life with May who is exactly the sort of wife high society expects him to marry.Or he could break with everything he's been taught and run off with her cousin Ellen who represents unconventionality and everything society represses.In a brief afterward we learn what he chooses and I actually liked this ending.It leaves the reader to ponder if he made the right choice, his motives for his decision, and though this is set in a very different era the message is still very real. Do we conform or do we dare?Are we in love with the person/thing or just the idea of it?

Passion and the outsider
It was a glittering, sumptuous time when hypocrisy was expected, discreet infidelity tolerated, and unconventionality ostracized.

That is the Gilded Age, and nobody knew its hypocrises better than Edith Wharton.... and nobody portrayed them as well. "The Age of Innocence" is a trip back in time to the stuffy upper crust of "old New York," taking us through one respectable man's hopeless love affair with a beautiful woman -- and the life he isn't brave enough to have.

Newland Archer, of a wealthy old New York family, has become engaged to pretty, naive May Welland. But as he tries to get their wedding date moved up, he becomes acquainted with May's exotic cousin, Countess Ellen Olenska, who has returned home after dumping her cheating husband. At first, the two are just friends, but Newland becomes more and more entranced by the Countess' easy, free-spirited European charm.

After Newland marries May, the attraction to the mysterious Countess and her free, unconventional life becomes even stronger. He starts to rebel in little ways, but he's still mired in a 100% conventional marriage, job and life. Will he become an outcast and go away with the beautiful countess, or will he stick with May and the safe, dull life that he has condemned in others?

There's nothing too scandalous about "Age of Innocence" in a time when starlets acquire and discard boyfriends and husbands like old pantyhose -- it probably wasn't in the 1920s when it was first published. But then, this isn't a book about sexiness and steam -- it's part bittersweet romance, part social satire, and a look at what happens when human beings lose all spontaneity and passion.

Part of this is due to Wharton's portrayal of New York in the 1870s -- opulent, cultured, pleasant, yet so tied up in tradition that few people in it are able to really open up and live. It's a haze of ballrooms, gardens, engagements, and careful social rituals that absolutely MUST be followed, even if they have no meaning. It's a place "where the real thing was never said or done or even thought."

And Wharton writes distant, slightly mocking prose that outlines this sheltered little society. Her writing opens as slowly and beautifully as a rosebud, letting subtle subplots and powerful, hidden emotions drive the story. So don't be discouraged by the endless conversations about flowers, ballrooms, gloves and old family scandals that don't really matter anymore.

In the middle of all this, Newland is a rather dull, intelligent young man who thinks he's unconventional. But he becomes more interesting as he struggles between his conscience and his longing for the Countess. And as "Age of Innocence" winds on, you gradually see that he doesn't truly love the Countess, but what she represents -- freedom from society and convention.

The other two angles of this love triangle are May and Ellen. May is (suitably) pallid and rather dull, though she shows some different sides in the last few chapters. And Ellen is a magnificent character -- alluring, mysterious, but also bewildered by New York's hostility to her ways. And she's even more interesting when you realize that she isn't trying to rebel, but simply being herself.

"Age of Innocence" is a subtle look at life in Gilded Age New York, telling the story of a man desperately in love with a way of life he hasn't got the courage to pursue. Exquisite in its details, painful in its beauty. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (20)

Enthusiastic and forthright
This is an enthusiastic, explicit, and forthright rather than a delicate reading of this superb satire but the forthrightness is always at the service of the meaning. Dick Hill never holds back. He consistently emphasizes and underlines the point of the language: nothing is hidden and nothing is understated. Anyone wishing to project their own interpretation on the text will be disappointed as Hill does all the work for you. I found this a great ride through the work but some listeners may find it laboured and over-characterized.

A couple of carping criticisms: Hill's voice for Ellen Olenska is a fully-fledged foreign accent. She was, after all, brought up American. And the sound-quality is a little on the boomy side. At the price, however, strongly recommended.

a perfectly-written classic
It is easy to see why The Age of Innocence has achieved the ranks of a classic -- the writing is perfect and probes the themes of love, loyalty, passion and tradition with timeless clarity.The story is set in upper-class Old New York, with its strict codes of conduct concerning even the most minute actions, ceaseless preoccupation with giving and attending dinner parties, and endless gossip about the doings of all the other members of its small, self-absorbed society.It is a world so far-removed from the 21st century that it is impossible to relate to, and seems ridiculous.Indeed, Wharton often seems to be poking subtle fun at this world in which she lived.

Against this backdrop she tells the story of a man and woman who, against all conventions, fall in love with each other and must make the choice between their desires and the rules of the society in which they live.Wharton probes and reveals their feelings, and those of the other main characters, with a deft and skillful touch.

The Age of Innocence has what I consider one of the best endings in literature.Wharton gives her book a conclusion that is truly bittersweet (quite a bit more bitter than sweet, actually).And because she does not explicitly explain her characters' motives, it leaves the reader wondering, with plenty of room for speculation as to why her characters behaved the way they did.It is hard to imagine a conclusion more masterful than that.

The narration of this audio version was very good.Although the narrator was a bit weak on some of the female voices (such as Mrs. Welland's lisp which I found a bit much), he did a particularly good job with Ellen Olenska's voice and overall it is an excellent performance.

Jane Austen with an edge
An unblinking examination of characters forced to choose between propriety and love, and a time when people still had to choose between the two. What I liked about the novel is that it makes you question both - is propriety worth the price you pay for it? Is love? What constitutes "happiness" - is it passion, or contentment? Can personal happiness ever be achieved if its cost is the happiness of others about whom you care?

Wharton does an excellent job of depicting ~1880s New York society, a construct so brittle that the mere expression of individuality, ambition or temperament threatens to shatter it. Then she creates two fairly empathetic characters, the "restless young man" Newland Archer and the simultaneously worldly/naive Ellen Olenska, sets them against the system and explores - with a brutal honesty that allows for no hope of literary intervention (fate, coincidence or anachronism) - the hypocrisy forced upon them ... and, to be fair, the hypocrisy they force upon themselves.

Had Jane Austen undertaken this tale, she might have told it with more humor but with less honesty. What both authors share, however, is an ability to satirize the often arbitrary, often absurd constraits of "propriety" while simultaneously acknowledging their force and enduring power.

Brilliant from start to finish!
A proper New York gentleman; that is precisely what Newland Archer is. Accepting of the harsh social codes put forth by society, compliant with the rules set in stone by his forefathers. Newland is a mother's dream. A true abider of the law and civilization, in general. Of course, just because he agrees to do what is expected of him doesn't mean that he loathes it. That he would give anything to rebel against the strict constitutions that are virtually set in stone. But alas, he would never go against what is right; which lands him in an unhappy marriage with May Welland.

May Welland is easy on the eyes, with demure features and porcelain skin; she is also boring, shallow, unimaginative, and, quite frankly...perfect. But perfection is not what Newland is after. May is everything Newland abhors about his close-knit community. She is inoffensive and polite, behaving just so. In his mind, she is a puppet propped up in fancy clothing with not a thought of her own. But she is May; the person he is supposed to love. And he does, at least on the surface. That is, until Countess Ellen Olenska, May's scandalous cousin, resurfaces.

Countess Ellen Olenska is not your typical woman. Feeling restrained and incomplete in an unhappy marriage, she elects to leave her husband in the foreign Europe and file for divorce. It is unheard of for someone of Countess Ellen Olenska's stature to do something so disreputable, but she refuses to back down. It is that fiery disposition; that brazenness, which captivates Newland. She takes risks, and savors the freedom of a single woman. She is unconventional and out of the ordinary. Newland is entranced with every breath, every move, of Countess Ellen Olenska, and soon they are seeking one another's company. But in New York High Society, scandal is frowned upon; and true feelings must be swept under the rug, no matter what the cost.

I'm entranced with New York High Society. There, I said it. The wealth. The way of life. The thoughts. The rules. No one brings the era of Old New York; of the nineteenth century, post-Civil War New York; of the morals and social obligations held in such high regard, than Edith Wharton.

Wharton has the power to manipulate the reader. To bury them deep within the thoughts and dialogue of the characters. She possesses the willingness to dig deep into taboo subjects, and work with them in ways many others shied away from. It is that frothy passion that lights up her work, and makes the reader interested in the era in question. Which transports the reader back to those times. THE AGE OF INNOCENCE does this magically, locking the reader within the world of Countess Ellen Olenska, of May Welland, of Newland Archer; refusing to release them from its hold until the last page has been turned, and the story is complete. Brilliant from start to finish!

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer
Café Fashionista
[...]

No one does New York high society better than Wharton
"It was the old New York way of taking life "with effusion of blood"; the way of people who dreaded scandal more than disease, who placed decency above courage, and who considered that nothing was more ill-bred than "scenes", except the behavior of those who gave rise to them."

I do like the way Wharton cuts to the chase and gets to the underbelly of the of 19C New York's hypocritical society. Set in New York's golden age, Wharton tells the story of Newland Archer, who has just announced his engagement to May Welland, although the arrival of May's cousin Countess Ellen Olenska on the heels of a disastrous marriage throws Newland for a loop. Newland and Ellen fight their attraction as he settles down to married life and proper society with May, until finally culminating in a very enigmatic ending to the love story.

Wharton, born Edith Newbald Jones, was born and raised in the high society that she writes about and my understanding is that the old phrase "keeping up with the Joneses" came from the rest of the upper crust trying to keep up with Wharton's family.As much as I enjoyed this, I didn't find it anywhere near as engaging and readable as The House of Mirth, although she is brilliant as always in displaying the foibles, weaknesses and flat out hypocrisy of New York society in the late 19C. This is a very subtle book with a story that unfolds slowly and one to savor slowly - if you're looking for a fast paced, page turning read look elsewhere. ... Read more

Product Description
With an Introduction by Dr Pamela Knights, Department of English Studies, Durham University

On a poor farm near Starkfield in western Massachusetts, Ethan Frome struggles to wrest a living from the land, unassisted by his whining and hypochondriacal wife Zeena. When Zeena's young cousin Mattie Silver is left destitute, the only place she can go is Ethan's farm. An embittered man and an enchanting young woman meeting in such circumstances unleash predictable consequences as passions are aroused between the three protagonists, Edith Wharton's characterisation and deft handling of reversals of fortune are so accomplished that Ethan Frome has remained enduringly popular since its first publication in 1911 and is considered her greatest tragic story. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Classic Book
Purchased for a summer reading project for a teen. Book arrived in a timely way and in good condition. Thank you ... Read more

Product Description
Edith Wharton and the Making of Fashion places the iconic New York figure and her writing in the context of fashion history and shows how dress lies at the very center of her thinking about art and culture. The study traces American patronage of the Paris couture houses from Worth and Doucet through Poiret and Chanel and places Wharton's characters in these establishments and garments to offer fresh readings of her well-known novels. Less known are Wharton's knowledge of and involvement in the craft of garment making in her tales of seamstresses, milliners, and textile workers, as well as in her creation of workshops in Paris during the First World War to employ Belgian and French seamstresses and promote the value of handmade garments in a world given to machine-driven uniformity of design and labor. Pointing the way toward further research and inquiry, Katherine Joslin has produced a truly interdisciplinary work that combines the best of literary criticism with an infectious love and appreciation of material culture. ... Read more

Product Description
A master of the American short story, in a two-volume collector's edition

Over the course of a long and astonishingly productive literary career that stretched from the early 1890s to just before World War II, Edith Wharton published nearly a dozen story collections, leaving a body of work as various as it is enduring. With this two-volume set, The Library of America presents the finest of Wharton's achievement in short fiction: 67 stories drawn from the entire span of her writing life, including the novella-length works The Touchstone, Sanctuary, and Bunner Sisters, eight shorter pieces never collected by Wharton, and many stories long out-of-print.

Her range of setting and subject matter is dazzling, and her mastery of style consistently sure. Here are all the aspects of Wharton's art: her satire, sometimes gentle, sometimes dark and despairing, of upper-class manners; her unblinking recognition of the power of social convention and the limits of passion; her merciless exposure of commercial motivations; her candid exploration of relations between the sexes.

The stories range with cosmopolitan ease from her native New York to the salons and summer hotels of Newport, Paris, and the Italian lakes. The depth of her response to World War I is registered in such works as "The Marne." Of particular interest are the remarkable stories, which treat occult and supernatural themes rarely encountered in her novels, such as the classic ghost stories "The Eyes" and "Pomegranate Seed." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Olympic quality writing...
Can you pick a favorite Edith Wharton short story?Teddy Roosevelt did, and it is here.

It is also my favorite - a fabulous poke at provincial reading groups, ostentatious authors and the unsuspected wise souls in their midst.

Read "Xingu" and savor every well chosen word.Ms Wharton is a pro and this is Olympic quality writing.
... Read more

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This Prestwick House Literary Touchstone Edition includes a glossary and reader's notes to help the reader fully appreciate the depth of Wharton's characters and their intricate relationships.

Edith Wharton's moving tale of illicit passion and unfulfilled longing still resonates with modern readers, especially those struggling with the eternal conflict of desire and responsibility. Trapped in a loveless marriage, Ethan must choose between his invalid wife and the captivating cousin who comes to help manage the house. One unguarded moment and a single thoughtless act give rise to devastating consequences that will haunt Ethan for the remainder of his life. ... Read more

Product Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Product Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Inclined To Read
Edith Wharton (January 24, 1862 - August 11, 1937) wrote the stories contained in "The Greater Inclination" and had the volume published in March of 1899.In many ways this was her first work of literature.Mrs. Wharton had written "Fast and Loose" in 1876, it wasn't published until 1938, after she had died.She also had privately published a book of poetry titled "Verses" in 1878, and published a non-fictional work titled "The Decoration of Houses" which she co-authored with Ogden Codman in 1897.Thus, while she was no stranger to writing this was an important start to her career as an author of literature.

"The Greater Inclination" consists of 8 works, 7 works of short fiction, and one two-act play.It is a somewhat diverse collection with several stories which touch on aspects of human relationships and interactions, a very dark story which delves into the psyche, and a light and humorous story included as well.In all, it is a very strong first effort and well worth reading.The stories included are:

"The Muse's Tragedy" - In this story, the young man Danyers falls for Mrs. Anerton even before he meets her, because he believes that she is the Silvia of which the famous poet Vincent Rendle wrote.He learns what he can of her, and travels to Europe, though far from certain that he will encounter her there.He is fortunate though, and they do meet.For a month they are together at Villa d' Este, and they agree to meet again in Venice after six weeks apart.The story finishes with a letter from Mrs. Anerton written after their meeting in Venice, where she explains to Danvers her feelings and the reasons for not returning to Venice after promising to do so.

"A Journey" - This is a dark, almost Poe-like story of a woman returning from Colorado to New York City with her dying husband.Through her thoughts, we learn how they grew apart when her husband became sick, and how they travelled to Colorado for his health, but now that the doctors have given up and have allowed him to return to New York to die.It is on the morning of the last day of their travels where she discovers that he has passed away, and her fear of being put off the train with his lifeless body causes her to pretend to others that he is merely very sick.As the day slowly passes, she becomes more and more nervous about being found out.

"The Pelican" - The narrator tells the humorous story of Mrs. Amyot, a woman who decides she must give lectures in order to pay for the expense of raising her son and putting him through school after his father has died when he was just six months of age.Unfortunately, Mrs. Amyot's lectures are about what she wants to say, more than they are about the facts of the subject.As the years pass, the narrator encounters Mrs. Amyot again and again, she always tells him how nervous he makes her, and how she is doing these lectures for her son.She even has the narrator help her in preparing lectures when her popularity has waned, and he helps her find new audiences out west.Many years later, he finds she is still lecturing, still supposedly for the benefit of her son.He attends her lecture one more time, this time with an unusual guest.

"Souls Belated" - Lydia is travelling with the man she loves, Gannett, after having left her husband, Tillotson, and receiving notice that he was divorcing her.They are at first unable to discuss the situation, each seeking refuge elsewhere, he in reading, she in observing others and hoping to not be alone while travelling.Eventually they are able to speak, and they try to setup their new life together.However, they are held back by their circumstances.Though able to live a lie initially, due to others being focused on another couple (the Lintons, who are actually Lord Trevenna and Mrs. Cope) who are in similar circumstances, eventually through a confrontation with Mrs. Cope Lydia learns that her secret can easily be found out.Again she and Gannett search for a solution for how they can be together without being forced to live a lie, or is it better to end their relationship?

"A Coward" - Vibart meets Irene Carstyle's mother whose manner tells him a lot about herself.She seems to resent her husband's decisions which have led to her position, but he learns that the main decision Mr. Carstyle made was very honourable and even heroic.He makes himself a frequent guest of the Carstyle's, more to see Mr. Carstyle than Irene.When an unusual event occurs where Mr. Carstyle attempts to stop what he thinks are runaway horses and is then disappointed when they are not, Vibart learns the story of what happened in Mr. Carstyle's past to make him want to be heroic.

"The Twilight of the God" - This is a short play which opens with Isabel reading and Lucius Warland returning from sailing.Lucius has just learned that he needs to go to Washington and is surprised to find Marion Raynor has gone before he can say goodbye.Marion has left the list of people who are coming to dinner, and Lucius is very excited to learn that John Oberville is on it.Oberville is a man of great power and connections who could get Lucius the position that he wants.He also is a man who was in love with, and who was loved by Isabel, Lucius's wife, and Lucius also learns the reason why they didn't marry even though they both loved each other.

"A Cup of Cold Water" - Woburn intends to marry Miss Talcott and her wealth.He borrows money and then steals it when he loses in the market.He is about $50,000 in debt due to what is essentially theft, and he is about to be found out from an audit; so he decides to leave town.He decides to meet Miss Talcott one last time, but is surprised when he arrives at the ball that those who are there appear so unimportant.He observes her from afar, before giving up the falseness of that life.Later, as he stays in a cheap hotel to avoid spending a night on the ship he is taking to escape, he hears the crying of a woman (Ruby Glenn) and the click of a revolver, which causes him to try to help her when she appears on the verge of committing suicide.In his desire to help her, he forgets his own difficulties for a brief period, and ultimately her story helps him to decide what to do in dealing with his own personal crisis.

"The Portrait" - A group is discussing the pictures of Lillo, and his failure with his portrait of Vard, when Lillo himself is introduced.Later, he leaves with the narrator and discusses the circumstances of his failure, and why it was done on purpose.
... Read more

Product Description
The following springwhen he went abroadMrs. Memorall offered him letters to everybodyfrom the Archbishop of Canterbury to Louise Michel. She did not include Mrs. Anertonhoweverand Danyers knewfrom a previous conversationthat Silvia objected to people who "brought letters." He knew also that she travelled during the summerand was unlikely to return to Rome before the term of his holiday should be reachedand the hope of meeting her was not included among his anticipations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Inclined To Read
Edith Wharton (January 24, 1862 - August 11, 1937) wrote the stories contained in "The Greater Inclination" and had the volume published in March of 1899.In many ways this was her first work of literature.Mrs. Wharton had written "Fast and Loose" in 1876, it wasn't published until 1938, after she had died.She also had privately published a book of poetry titled "Verses" in 1878, and published a non-fictional work titled "The Decoration of Houses" which she co-authored with Ogden Codman in 1897.Thus, while she was no stranger to writing this was an important start to her career as an author of literature.

"The Greater Inclination" consists of 8 works, 7 works of short fiction, and one two-act play.It is a somewhat diverse collection with several stories which touch on aspects of human relationships and interactions, a very dark story which delves into the psyche, and a light and humorous story included as well.In all, it is a very strong first effort and well worth reading.The stories included are:

"The Muse's Tragedy" - In this story, the young man Danyers falls for Mrs. Anerton even before he meets her, because he believes that she is the Silvia of which the famous poet Vincent Rendle wrote.He learns what he can of her, and travels to Europe, though far from certain that he will encounter her there.He is fortunate though, and they do meet.For a month they are together at Villa d' Este, and they agree to meet again in Venice after six weeks apart.The story finishes with a letter from Mrs. Anerton written after their meeting in Venice, where she explains to Danvers her feelings and the reasons for not returning to Venice after promising to do so.

"A Journey" - This is a dark, almost Poe-like story of a woman returning from Colorado to New York City with her dying husband.Through her thoughts, we learn how they grew apart when her husband became sick, and how they travelled to Colorado for his health, but now that the doctors have given up and have allowed him to return to New York to die.It is on the morning of the last day of their travels where she discovers that he has passed away, and her fear of being put off the train with his lifeless body causes her to pretend to others that he is merely very sick.As the day slowly passes, she becomes more and more nervous about being found out.

"The Pelican" - The narrator tells the humorous story of Mrs. Amyot, a woman who decides she must give lectures in order to pay for the expense of raising her son and putting him through school after his father has died when he was just six months of age.Unfortunately, Mrs. Amyot's lectures are about what she wants to say, more than they are about the facts of the subject.As the years pass, the narrator encounters Mrs. Amyot again and again, she always tells him how nervous he makes her, and how she is doing these lectures for her son.She even has the narrator help her in preparing lectures when her popularity has waned, and he helps her find new audiences out west.Many years later, he finds she is still lecturing, still supposedly for the benefit of her son.He attends her lecture one more time, this time with an unusual guest.

"Souls Belated" - Lydia is travelling with the man she loves, Gannett, after having left her husband, Tillotson, and receiving notice that he was divorcing her.They are at first unable to discuss the situation, each seeking refuge elsewhere, he in reading, she in observing others and hoping to not be alone while travelling.Eventually they are able to speak, and they try to setup their new life together.However, they are held back by their circumstances.Though able to live a lie initially, due to others being focused on another couple (the Lintons, who are actually Lord Trevenna and Mrs. Cope) who are in similar circumstances, eventually through a confrontation with Mrs. Cope Lydia learns that her secret can easily be found out.Again she and Gannett search for a solution for how they can be together without being forced to live a lie, or is it better to end their relationship?

"A Coward" - Vibart meets Irene Carstyle's mother whose manner tells him a lot about herself.She seems to resent her husband's decisions which have led to her position, but he learns that the main decision Mr. Carstyle made was very honourable and even heroic.He makes himself a frequent guest of the Carstyle's, more to see Mr. Carstyle than Irene.When an unusual event occurs where Mr. Carstyle attempts to stop what he thinks are runaway horses and is then disappointed when they are not, Vibart learns the story of what happened in Mr. Carstyle's past to make him want to be heroic.

"The Twilight of the God" - This is a short play which opens with Isabel reading and Lucius Warland returning from sailing.Lucius has just learned that he needs to go to Washington and is surprised to find Marion Raynor has gone before he can say goodbye.Marion has left the list of people who are coming to dinner, and Lucius is very excited to learn that John Oberville is on it.Oberville is a man of great power and connections who could get Lucius the position that he wants.He also is a man who was in love with, and who was loved by Isabel, Lucius's wife, and Lucius also learns the reason why they didn't marry even though they both loved each other.

"A Cup of Cold Water" - Woburn intends to marry Miss Talcott and her wealth.He borrows money and then steals it when he loses in the market.He is about $50,000 in debt due to what is essentially theft, and he is about to be found out from an audit; so he decides to leave town.He decides to meet Miss Talcott one last time, but is surprised when he arrives at the ball that those who are there appear so unimportant.He observes her from afar, before giving up the falseness of that life.Later, as he stays in a cheap hotel to avoid spending a night on the ship he is taking to escape, he hears the crying of a woman (Ruby Glenn) and the click of a revolver, which causes him to try to help her when she appears on the verge of committing suicide.In his desire to help her, he forgets his own difficulties for a brief period, and ultimately her story helps him to decide what to do in dealing with his own personal crisis.

"The Portrait" - A group is discussing the pictures of Lillo, and his failure with his portrait of Vard, when Lillo himself is introduced.Later, he leaves with the narrator and discusses the circumstances of his failure, and why it was done on purpose.
... Read more

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Product Description
Edith Wharton, author of Ethan Frome, The House of Mirth, and other acclaimed novels, was born into a wealthy family. Beginning in childhood, Edith found ways to escape from society's and her family's expectations and follow an unconventional, creative path. Unhappily married and eventually divorced, she surrounded herself with male friends. She spent much of her life in Paris and was recognized by the French government for her generosity and hard work during World War I. Her literary and personal life, her witty and incisive correspondence, her fondness for automobiles and small dogs--all are detailed in this warm and sparkling account of a woman well ahead of her time. Includes a bibliography, source notes, and an index.

Customer Reviews (13)

Beautifully Scripted
The author matches Edith Wharton in both style and elocution (Sic?)I learned quite a great deal about the subject of this book,but was equally impressed with the style in which this book was written. Also,the choice of paper,and typeface,is very pleasing aesthetically.This is a slim volume in appearance only. There is a great deal of substance within....-K.L.H

For adults as well
Bought this for an adult (English Professor). It will be as informative for him as it will be for a 14 year old.

Fantastic look into the life of Edith Wharton
I am so glad I ordered this book in spite of it being advertised as a young adult book!

The Brave Escape of Edith Wharton is a fantastic introduction to a woman who was far ahead of her time and so very true to herself.Edith Wharton was not only a wonderful and talented author, she was also a person with a great passion and zest for living.Given the society she was born into (the "Jones" no less...the ones we work so hard to keep up with!), it is somewhat miraculous that she was able to blossom into the person she was.

The author creates a seemingly honest and well-rounded story about Edith Wharton that includes her strengths and weaknesses.She provides a fascinating look into American History via the life of Edith Wharton.

I was impressed with how tastefully, yet honestly, the author reveals the less savory parts of Wharton's life...appropriate for teen readers.

I had no idea prior to reading this of how extensive Wharton's charitable works (more like a charitable lifestyle) were during the war in Europe.Wharton was an intelligent, generous, talented, one-of-a-kind, true-to-herself, ahead-of-her-time, woman and writer.I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

Quite interesting!
At first I wondered why anyone would write a biography of Edith Wharton when she'd already written an autobiography, but Wooldridge actually explains what is missing from Wharton's account of her life.These omissions are pretty good reasons for another biography, I admit--plus, Wharton left some material "for [her] biographer."What an interesting story The Brave Escape of Edith Wharton is, as Wharton hops from continent to continent in search of health and contentment, gains confidence as a writer and as a person, devotes an enormous amount of her resources to war efforts, and takes little dogs with her wherever she goes.
This was a fun book to read, and it went quickly.

Well, I thought this would be a good one
I thought that my daughter, who frequently tells me that she is a feminist, would appreciate Edith Wharton's struggles. While she hasn't read any Wharton yet (she's only ten), she knew who Wharton was because she liked the Suzanne Vega song 'Edith Wharton's Figurines.' Well, she started this book and got about a quarter of the way into it and then set it aside, saying that it got too boring. Perhaps I can get her back into it after she studies more about the industrial revolution in school, since I believe the Gilded Age was a gilded cage for most women, funded by industrial wealth. ... Read more

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This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

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A side from her Pulitzer Prize-winning talent as a novel writer, Edith Wharton also distinguished herself as a short story writer, publishing more than seventy-two stories in ten volumes during her lifetime. The best of her short fiction is collected here in Roman Fever and Other Stories. From her picture of erotic love and illegitimacy in the title story to her exploration of the aftermath of divorce detailed in "Souls Belated" and "The Last Asset," Wharton shows her usual skill "in dissecting the elements of emotional subtleties, moral ambiguities, and the implications of social restrictions," as Cynthia Griffin Wolff writes in her introduction. Roman Fever and Other Stories is a surprisingly contemporary volume of stories by one of our most enduring writers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A startling good story -- lots of atmosphere and wonderfully twisty at the end
This tale was first published in "Liberty" in 1934 and was later included in Whaton's last collection of short stories, The world over.

This story is well worth searching out for, read on one level, it evokes a wonderful sense one of the greatest vistas in the world where many centuries of culture are on view. My wife and I have spent many hours on the Palantine Hill, observing and dreaming about the rich cultural history of Rome.

Wharton also brings to life the two main characters, their family relationships and lives in New York City, and especially the importance of their daughters in their own lives.

Finally, the great portion of the story dealing with the public and private histories described are merely prelude for a wonderfully satisfying series of unexpected plot twists.

The story has also been analyzed on a much deeper level by Dale M. Bauer in 1988 in "Edith Wharton, 'Roman Fever', Rune of History": one of many points includes:

""Since the entirety of the story plays itself out against the backdrop of `the great accumulated wreckage of passion and splendor' in Rome, I am suggesting that Wharton means to put into some relation of the fortunes of civilization and the fortunes of these two families, the Slades and the Ansleys. The story insists, first of all, that our own myth of origins -- from which we get all our founding or inaugurating force, our authority -- is inherently arbitrary ... Wharton's fiction, therefore participates in a kind of demystification (destructive) process; both women believe their own inaugural myths about their daughters.... Both are wrong about the order of things, and Wharton uncovers a profound emptiness at the heart of history since chance seems to rule."

Whether read as a well written tale of love and rage, or more deeply analyzed as a "Rune of History", there is much to reward any reader who loves great English literature.

Robert C. Ross2010

Note: I read this story to my wife, and to do so most effectively, this is a story which the reader should skim through before declaiming. The listener's enjoyment will be greatly enhanced by delicate emphasis at various points in the discussion of family relationships, particularly the relationships of the two women with their daughters.

And, we were both struck with our memories of Henry James's Daisy Miller:"Well, I have seen the Colosseum by moonlight!" Wharton echoes James in a very effective way, and proves that life as well as death can follow a visit to the great monument. B.

Excellent
There is nothing much you can say about a classic. A classic is a classic for a reason. Edith Wharton is undeniably one of the best American writers and this book of short stories is another proof of it. It is a mark of a true talent to be able in a matter of 20-25 pages to reveal both deep nature of characters and expose society follies. Each story is a masterpiece which leaves you with a deeper understanding of suffocating restrictions of 19th century America and complexities of human nature. This book is a must read for anyone who appreciates quality literature.

Roman Fever burns bright
This short story is wonderfully complex and intriguing. Although it uses the late nineteenth century language, it is easy to understand and hard to put down until the end. Wonderful read for women looking for a motivational power-strive.

Wharton subtletly uses setting as symbolism
I had to read "Roman Fever" for an english class, and it was a very good story! The author describes the scenery & events around the characters, which makes it richer, but when you go back to analyze it, yourealize that he setting & buildings & even other people in it areactually being used as foreshadowing symbolism.It's very well-written andmulti-layered. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (7)

Absolutely Spectacular


I went into this book knowing nothing except that it took place in NYC and was published in 1920. I can say it was the most surprisingly wonderful book I have read in a long time. The world that Wharton creates is so vivid, and her observations so sharp that there were times I couldn't believe what I was reading. The plot is well documented and it is true that character development is more important in her work than plot development, but that is not to diminish the interest and pacing of the story. Every scene advances the plot while at the same time reveals more details about the characters, their world and Wharton's opinions about humans in any time. The two page preamble about "Old New York's" social codes when traveling abroad is absolutely hilarious, written with such warm and forgiving sarcasm that there is almost no character that you are not interested in. As the book gets deeper, the relationship between the individuals and society become so much richer and intricate that the central story between Newland, Ellen and May is overlaid and almost marginalized by the actions, stresses and diplomacy of their New York Society. Its hard to describe how wonderful this book is, with every page teeming with sentences you will want to read over again and moments you will want to stop and think about. From the first page it manages a tone that is light, sure and sharp. Amazing, amazing book.

Very Satisfying
I knew I was going to like this novel when I read, on page 3, "...an unalterable and unquestioned law of the musical world required that the German text of French operas sung by Swedish artists should be translated into Italian for the clearer understanding of English-speaking audiences."

And it did not disappoint.I won't repeat the detailed analyses here by others; I will only say that this novel is by common consensus a classic of literature, and that is no accident.It is worth your time, and then some.

Incidentally, as I write this (March 2010), the Folio Society has just issued a beautiful new edition of this book.If you like fine books, you can't do much better than a classic work in a Folio edition.

An Incredibly Beautiful Book.
I found the Age of Innocence to be an incredibly beautiful book.It has been a long time since I've read anything so masterfully written.It is a book that resonated with me on many levels and won't be forgotten very easily.The characters are wonderfully portrayed.It is a story of a romance that struggles against the norms and unwritten rules of the upper-class of NYC in the 1870's.More fundamentally though the book is also about the constraining/bounded environments/communities/affiliations that we all operate within.How some of us strive to breakout or go against the grain of these realms and take the associated risks.It is a novel of breaking free and seeking something more meaningful and deeper.It has my highest recommendation!

A Battle Fought By The Maliciously Polite
Newland Archer is engaged to May-old New York's most desirable debutante. Then May's cousin, Countess Olenska, arrives in New York and May's charms seem contrived in comparison. Archer wants the Countess Olenska, but he lacks the courage to bring the relationship to fruition. Thus a whole lifetime of love is missed and mourned.

There is much to be admired in Wharton's story of an unhappy marriage in old New York. But I must have spent too long in New Zealand because I find myself agreeing whole heartedly with Kiwi Katherine Mansfield's Katherine Mansfield's Short Stories (Norton Critical Edition) 1920 Athenaeum review of this book-the characters in The Age of Innocence were "mere portraits" and I did not "grow warm in a gallery where the temperature is so sparkling cool". A whole book devoted to a few meager expressions of passion was stifling. And when I say meager, I mean meager. The peak-a wanton, uncontrolled, passion fueled expression of love between Archer and the Countess Olenska is always in dim view, but no one wants to dare make the trek to the summit and live with the consequences. Archer, May and the Countess Olenska live in a beautiful world, but it owns them. You keep hoping for inroads into these stifling characters, some human weakness, but they all refuse to drink the wine. It's refreshing to read a book where people are more than slaves to biological passions, but these characters still sell their souls for money, title, position and the respect of people they scant respect themselves. Ultimately this is a book about opportunities missed not because of circumstances, but because the players never had the courage to express their love. It's a good story, but Wharton's writing may be just as full of the "faint implications" and "spare delicacies" that she accuses her characters of having.

A good read, but not one of my favorites. I found the text a little spare.

The Scorsese film The Age of Innocence does an excellent job of bringing this story to the screen and is highly recommended.

Very accessible classic
Edith Wharton's THE AGE OF INNOCENCE is quite straight forward and an easier read than many novels considered "classics".I reread it after viewing the film and was very impressed by how close Scorsese had stayed to the text of the novel and actually appreciated the film more!Watch the movie and read the book and see how they enhance each other. ... Read more

Product Description
This Kindle book includes 13 novels (Touchstone, Valley of Decision, Sanctuary, House of Mirth, Fruit of the Tree, Ethan Frome, The Reef, the Custom of the Country, Bunner Sisters, Summer, Age of Innocence, Gllimpses of the Moon), 6 collections of stories (Crucial Instances, The Greater Inclination, Tales of Men and Ghosts, The Hermit and the Wild Woman, The Descent of Man, and Eleven Stories by Edith Wharton), a book of verse (Artemis to Actaeon), and two non-fiction books (Fighting France and In Morocco).According to Wikipedia: "Edith Wharton (January 24, 1862 - August 11, 1937) was an American novelist, short story writer, and designer. ... The Age of Innocence (1920), perhaps her best known work, won the 1921 Pulitzer Prize for literature, making her the first woman to win the award."

Responding to customer feedback, I fixed a formatting problem (too much space between paragraphs) on 7/1/2009.If you bought a copy before then, you should be able to download the new version at no additional cost.Feedback always welcome, seltzer@samizdat.com ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent author undone by shoddy transcription
This book was my first Kindle purchase and one novel in it, "The House of Mirth" was the first book I've read in Kindle format. Though you can't beat the price (a dollar for 21 Wharton works!) many readers will be frustrated by the formatting of the works. Though there is a table of contents for all of the works, each individual book has no chapter markings, so you read page after page without one chapter coming to a close and another beginning. One chapter starts as if it's just another paragraph It makes for very confusing and rather relentless reading that undermines the flow of Wharton's work.

Other flaws include end quotes floating down to the subsequent paragraph, and, perhaps most egregious, phrases that were supposed to be italicized are instead CAPITALIZED. As a result, elegant foreign phrases like "trompe d'oeil" are shouted at the reader as TROMPE D'OEIL. Most disconcerting.

Loved the novel, and finished it despite the flaws in its transcription. Am hesitant to start another. ... Read more

Product Description
Get the most from great literature with CliffsNotes, the original study guides.

Written exclusively by experienced teachers and educators, CliffsNotes are the resource of choice for today’s students. These user-friendly guides make studying a snap–with visual icons flagging key themes, literary devices, and more. With hundreds of titles available in an easy-to-use format, CliffsNotes has the right guide for you.

Inside you’ll find valuable insights on Wharton’s The Age of Innocence, including:

Plot

• Brief overall synopsis
• Chapter-by-chapter summaries
• Clear explanations and analysis

Characters

• Character map–who’s who at a glance
• Character analysis (Newland Archer, May Welland Archer, Countess Ellen Olenska, Mrs. Manson Mingott)

Themes

• Concise discussion of major themes
• Special essay on the book’s themes, including personal freedom, values, and social codes

Study Aids

• Review Q&As and quote IDs
• Essay questions and practice projects
• Glossaries of key words and terms

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This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

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From New York to Europe, the apartments of the nouveau riche to ancient French estates, Edith Wharton tells the story of Undine Spragg, a girl from a Midwestern town with unquenchable social aspirations. Though Undine is narcissistic, pampered, and incredibly selfish, she is a beguiling heroine whose marital initiation into New York high society from its trade-wealthy fringes is only the beginning of her relentless ambitions. Wharton weaves an elaborate plot that renders a detailed depiction of upper class social behavior in the early twentieth century. By utilizing a character with inexorable greed in a novel of manners, she demonstrates some of the customs of a modern age and posits a surprising explanation for divorce and the social role of women, which still resonates for the modern reader today. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Savage customs
Few social climbers are as surreally despicable as Edith Wharton's Undine Spragg, who doesn't care what happens to anyone else as long as she can shop and party. And "The Custom of the Country" is the perfect example of what such people do to the people around them. It's nauseating and brilliant, all at once.

Undine Spragg is a mesmerizing beauty from a tiny town, whose parents made a small-scale fortune and have moved to the glitzy world of New York. Undine wants the best of everything, more than her family can afford, but she thinks it's all worth it -- so she marries a besotted son of "old New York," but it doesn't take long for him to realize how incompatible they are.

And he doesn't realize that Undine is hiding a (then) shameful secret -- she was once married and quickly divorced from a vulgar businessman. In the present, Undine continues her quest for a life of pleasure, moving on to a French nobleman and getting just as dissatisfied with him. The only way to succeed lies in the one man who sees her for what she is.

Undine Spragg may actually be one of the most despicable, selfish characters in all of classic literature -- she literally doesn't care about anyone but herself, or who she hurts. You'd think a book about someone like that would be dreary, but instead it's one long needle at the people like Undine, who care only for money, status and fun.

But it's also about the changing fortunes in late 19th-century America (and Europe). New money -- symbolized by Undine and her shrewd, megarich ex-hubby -- was squeezing out the old guard, who were never terribly rich to start with. Wharton's observations on their rise and decline have a sharp, biting edge. Although compared to the anti-heroine, the old traditions seem pretty innocent.

Lots of celebrity socialites could take a lesson from Undine's story: she's a snob of humble stock, thinks she's a great person, and utterly selfish -- if her husband shoots himself, that's great! She can marry again without the disgrace of a divorce! Yet in the end, you know that Undine will always be craving something more that she thinks will make her happy, but she will never find it.

The characters around Undine are usually nice, but blinded by her nymphlike beauty -- and even her parents, who know what she's like, are too beaten-down by her whining to resist. Only her ex-husband, Ralph Marvell, is really right for her -- not only is he obscenely rich and just as grasping as Undine, but he's smart enough to know what a monster she is.

"The Custom of the Country" is a wickedly barbed, brilliant piece of work, with one of the nastiest anti-heroines ever, and a great look at the rising tides of "new money." A must-read. ... Read more