American novelist whose best known works include the age of innocence 1920, ethan frome 1911, and the house of mirth 1905. Edith wharton died of a stroke on 11 august 1937 at pavillon colombe. Edith wharton loved ghost stories and included a good number of them among the more than eighty pieces of short fiction she published during her career. Edith wharton books biography and list of works author.
One of edith whartons most famous novelsthe first by a woman to win the pulitzer prizeexquisitely details a tragic struggle between love and responsibility in gilded age new york. Edith wharton was born on january 24, 1862, in new york city, wharton spended a considerable part of her youth traveling around europe with her family. Ethan frome, published in 1911, is one of edith whartons most famous works. She won a pulitzer prize for a novel she published in 1920 called the age of innocence.
Although most were poor and not part of her refined world, she was fascinated. Her funeral service was held at the american cathedral of the holy trinity in paris of which her father was a founding member. The edith wharton bbc radio drama collection audiobook. Edith wharton biography famous people in history, famous. For a period of 15 years or more, she produced work of. Novellas includes only those works published separately. Among whartons most famous novels is the age of innocence, which was filmed in 1993. Works of edith wharton 31 books kindle edition by wharton. This is the story of a poor farmer and miller who becomes hopelessly in love with the young cousin of his sinister wife.
A very short biography of edith wharton interesting literature. Edith wharton s stories with original dates of publication. Educated privately, she was married to edward wharton in 1885, and for the next few years, they spent their time in the high society of newport rhode island, then lenox. Works by edith wharton 18621937 edith whartons stories with original dates of publication. All while her marriage disintegrated under the weight of teddy whartons mental instability. The best place to start with edith wharton is with her fourth and second most famous novel, the house of mirth. In addition to her works as a novelist, most famously the house of mirth, the age of innocence, the custom of the country, and ethan frome, she also was a renowned interior designer, and was the first woman to win the pulitzer prize for fiction. She spent much of her younger years going around europe with them. Edith wharton was very knowledgable on all aspects of architecture and gardening, so she oversaw everything during its construction. The protagonist, the farmer ethan frome, is married to a whining hypochondriac but falls in love with her cousin, mattie. Jan 24, 2014 it was only with the house of mirth, published in 1905, that edith wharton emerged as a historian of the american society of her time. Educated privately, she was married to edward wharton in 1885, and for the next few years they spent their time in the high society of newport. Where to start reading with edith wharton, beyond age of. Edith wharton biography childhood, life achievements.
It was only with the house of mirth, published in 1905, that edith wharton emerged as a historian of the american society of her time. Americas most famous woman of letters, and the first woman to win the pulitzer prize, edith wharton was born into one of the last leisured class families in new york city, as she put it, in 1862. The house of mirth starring carole mowlam, keith alexander and alexander john. Edith wharton january 24, 1862 august 11, 1937 won the 1921 pulitzer prize for the age of innocence.
At the same time, it is in some ways the most passionately argued. Edith wharton was an american novelist, short story writer, playwright, and designer. Edith wharton simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Italian villas and their gardens the edith wharton society. The greatest works of edith wharton the custom of the. The edith wharton bbc radio drama collection audiobook by. Her protagonists are most often tragic heroes or heroines portrayed as. Some of her most famous fictional works depict new york hi society in the late nineteenth century. Along with close friend henry james, she helped define literature at the turn of the 20th century, even as she wrote classic nonfiction on travel, decorating and her own life. We previously offered one of her creepiest tales, kerfol, as a story of the week selection. Edith wharton, an american author and pulitzer prize winner, is known for her ironic and polished prose about the aristocratic new york society into which she was born. At her strongest and most characteristic, she is a brilliant example of.
A pulitzer prizewinning novelist, wharton is known for her sharp wit and observations about class in america. Want to read more edith wharton, but dont know where to start. The youngest of three children, edith spent her early years touring europe with her parents and, upon the familys return to the united states, enjoyed a privileged childhood in new york and newport, rhode island. Together they represent nearly a quarter century in the productive life of one of the most accomplished and admired of american writers.
With commercial success and critical acclaim, theres no doubt that edith wharton is one of the most popular authors of the last 100 years. The story described the frustrated love of a new york lawyer, newland archer, for unconventional, artistic ellen olenska, the separated wife of a dissolute polish count. Edith wharton books list of books by author edith wharton. A very short biography of edith wharton interesting. Edith wharton was an american author born on january 24, 1862, in new york city. Wharton is a master of accurate characterization, presentation of the most telling details, and rich plot. How does ethan frome relate to edith whartons life. She read all of johann goethes plays and poems and the poetry of john keats.
Although she had had a book of her own poems privately printed when she was 16, it was not until after several years of married life that wharton began to write in. Edith wharton chronology from the edith wharton society. Edith wharton, nee edith newbold jones, born january 24, 1862, new york, new york, u. Edith whartons stories with original dates of publication information adapted from shari benstock, chronology of works by edith wharton in no gifts from chance, pp. One of americas most important novelists, edith wharton was a refined, relentless chronicler of the gilded age and its social mores. Top 10 best edith wharton books best edith wharton book series. Edith wharton, it is clear, did not wait until 1920 to write about combat. Italian villas and their gardens is possibly the most scholarly and objective of whartons travel texts, with personal details about her travels, efforts to obtain permission to visit villas, and difficulties with maxfield parrish suppressed. Her popular novels, known for their dramatic irony, earned her the pulitzer prize and multiple nobel prize nominations. Early years edith wharton, an american author and pulitzer prize winner, is known for.
Yet it would be reductive to think of her meticulous prose and craftswomanship as transparent windows into her personal life. What is most notable about a backward glance, however, is what it does not tell. Best edith wharton books list of popular edith wharton. Her best works, conributions to american literature. The mount would be the home to the whartons for ten years. Ediths summers in newport helped to inform much of her writing, most notably her famous work, the age of innocence, in which she describes the wealthy, quintessentially american vacation town. A national historic landmark, today the mount is a cultural center that celebrates the intellectual, artistic and humanitarian legacy of edith wharton. Wharton broke through these strictures to become one of americas greatest writers. Edith wharton was born edith newbold jones on january 24, 1862 in new york city. Edith wharton biography list of works, study guides. Edith whartons style included the use of subtle dramatic irony. She begin writing as a teenager and would go on to write over 40 books during her lifetime. Edith wharton was born edith jones in 1862, into the leisure class of new york. As a daughter of society, edith was expected to learn the mannerisms and rituals that were appropriate to her social class.
Edith newbold jones was born into such wealth and privilege that her family inspired the phrase keeping up with the joneses. It prevailed mostly as a reaction to the romanticism that had taken up most of the century in its grip. Mar 09, 2015 the best place to start with edith wharton is with her fourth and second most famous novel, the house of mirth. For more information on edith whartons life and work, consult these or other sources, from which the information on this page has been derived. Edith wharton was a pulitzer prizewinning american writer who was also nominated for the nobel prize in literature in 1927, 1928 and 1930. But a passionate social prophet is precisely what edith wharton became. For more information on edith wharton s life and work, consult these or other sources, from which the information on this page has been derived. Her family was fairly wealthy and out of three children, she was the youngest. This collection includes fullcast dramatisations of the following novels.
Edith whartons former newport mansion hits the market for. Educated privately, she was married to edward wharton in 1885, and for the next few years, they spent their time in the high society of newport. Edith wharton biography, books and facts famous authors. The greatest works of edith wharton the reef leatherbound. Whartons bestknown work is the long tale ethan frome 1911, which exploits the grimmer possibilities of the new england farm life she observed from her home in lenox, massachusetts. Summer, also set in rural new england, is often considered a companion to ethan frome wharton herself called it the hot ethanin its portrayal of a young woman. Her parents, george and lucretia jones, had roots in aristocracy dating back three centuries. Wharton drew upon her insiders knowledge of the upper class new york aristocracy to realistically portray the lives and morals of the gilded age. She wrote this book because she had a similar life like the main character in the book. In 1921, she was the first woman to win the pulitzer prize for literature. Edith wharton biography and list of works edith wharton books. As a child, she studied with private tutors at governesses at home, and by age 18 she had published poems in magazines including the atlantic monthly. A bbc radio collection of fullcast dramatisations, bringing together edith whartons most popular and bestloved works.
The house of mirth charts the falling fortunes of lilly bart, a bright, vivacious upperclass woman raised to be an ornament to society and more specifically, to a wealthy man. Many of her works have been made into movies, television movies, and television series. Collected in this library of america volume are no fewer than six of the works of edith wharton. Edith wharton family was upper class a group of people who has a lot of money.
Her writing style is called social realism, a style of the later part of the nineteenth century. Whartons many stories about marriage, betrayal, desire, and loneliness drew from her own life experience. At the same time, it was about peoples lives during the nineteenth century. May 20, 2019 ediths summers in newport helped to inform much of her writing, most notably her famous work, the age of innocence, in which she describes the wealthy, quintessentially american vacation town. Educated privately, she was married to edward wharton in 1885, and for the next few years they spent their time in the high society of newport, rhode island, then lenox. She was best known for her stories and novels about the upperclass society into which she was born, and thus wellacquainted with.
Edith wharton was born jones in a fashionable quarter of new york, arriving appropriately during the quarrel between masters about servants, known as the civil war. Edith wharton biography, quotes, works and writings. Justice to edith whartonjune 29, 1938before edith wharton died, the more commonplace work of her later years had had the effect of dulling the reputation of her earlier and more serious work. As a daughter of society, edith was expected to learn the mannerisms. Her protagonists are most often tragic heroes or heroines portrayed as intelligent and emotional people who want more out of life. Works by edith wharton 18621937 edith wharton s stories with original dates of publication.
Ethan frome, summer, bunner sisters by edith wharton. Wharton waxkeep publishing collections provide historys greatest authors collected works in a convenient collection complete with a linked table of contents. Edith wharton books biography and list of works author of the. Works by edith wharton 18621937 washington state university. Wharton wrote numerous novels the more famous being the house of mirth 1905, the reef 1912, the custom of the country 19 and summer 1917.
January 24, 1862 august 11, 1937 was an american novelist, short story writer, playwright, and designer. Edith wharton books biography and list of works author of. Summer, also set in rural new england, is often considered a companion to ethan fromewharton herself called it the hot ethanin its portrayal of a young womans. Newland archer, an aristocratic young lawyer, is engaged to the cloistered, beautiful may welland. The whartons sold the mount in 1911, they divorced in 19. Here she would write some of her greatest works, including the house of mirth 1905 and ethan frome 1911. But the greatest treat about reading the works of edith wharton is her writing itself elegant, impeccable. She was buried on 14 august in the cimetiere des gonards, versailles, france. Information adapted from shari benstock, chronology of works by edith wharton in no gifts from chance, pp. Edith wharton was born into a privileged new york family in 1862 and died in france in 1937. Here, wharton wrote two of her most famous works, the house of mirth and ethan frome. Her protagonists are most often tragic heroes or heroines portrayed as intelligent and emotional people who want more out of. Author of the age of innocence, ethan frome, and the house of mirth, she wrote over 40 books in 40. The most famous novel she wrote was the age of innocence 1920.
1313 1033 253 1268 1346 1515 458 686 724 931 1163 586 162 1533 1258 871 976 759 817 534 1464 285 813 1447 1490 300 1512 1540 600 1240 855 270 717 1128 1133 786 654 1149