Edith Wharton
Edith Wharton (1862-1937) was an American novelist and short-story writer, celebrated for her sharp, elegant portraits of the upper reaches of New York society and the individuals trapped within its rigid conventions. In 1921 she became the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
Her major works include The Age of Innocence, a masterly study of thwarted love in old New York; The House of Mirth, the tragic story of a woman ruined by society's expectations; and the stark New England tragedy Ethan Frome. Wharton wrote with cool irony and profound sympathy about the ways social codes crush individual desire.
Born into the wealthy society she so precisely depicted, Wharton was a keen observer of its hypocrisies. She was also a passionate traveller, designer, and one of the most respected American writers of her time.
Our editions present her fiction clearly for modern readers. Read the opening free, and read or listen with a membership.
Edith Wharton in the library · 3 works
Ethan Frome
The Age of Innocence
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Frequently asked questions about Edith Wharton
What did Edith Wharton write?
Wharton wrote novels and short stories. Her major novels are The Age of Innocence, The House of Mirth, and Ethan Frome, along with The Custom of the Country and many acclaimed short stories and ghost stories. The Age of Innocence, which won the Pulitzer Prize, is her most celebrated work.
What is The Age of Innocence about?
Set in the wealthy, tightly-ruled society of 1870s New York, it follows Newland Archer, a young man engaged to a conventional woman but drawn to her unconventional cousin, Countess Olenska. Torn between duty and desire, he is quietly bound by the unwritten rules of his class. It is a subtle, moving tragedy of a passion sacrificed to social convention.
Where should I start with Edith Wharton?
The Age of Innocence is her masterpiece and a wonderful place to begin. Ethan Frome is short, stark, and powerful, making it another excellent starting point. The House of Mirth is her other major novel. Any of the three is a strong introduction to her precise, ironic style.
What is Ethan Frome about?
Ethan Frome is a short, bleak tragedy set in a harsh New England winter, about a poor farmer trapped in a loveless marriage who falls in love with his wife's young cousin. Their doomed longing leads to a devastating conclusion. It is a spare, powerful story of frustrated hope and quiet desperation.
Are Wharton's novels hard to read?
Not especially — her prose is polished, precise, and clear, and her stories are absorbing. Her insight lies in the subtle workings of society and the human heart, which reward attention. A clear modern edition makes her elegant fiction very accessible.
When did Edith Wharton live?
Wharton lived from 1862 to 1937. Born into elite New York society, she published her major novels in the early 20th century and won the Pulitzer Prize for The Age of Innocence in 1921 — the first woman to do so. She spent much of her later life in France.
Where can I read Edith Wharton for free?
Wharton's works are in the public domain and freely available. Older editions keep the original text. Here you can read the openings free in clear modern English, and read or listen with a membership.
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