Edith Wharton

Edith Wharton is one of the most prominent and accomplished authors of the late 19th and early 20th centuries who wrote much-celebrated works of fiction. She is widely known for her intensely detailed novels, her acute observations on the human condition, and her unparalleled knowledge of the American upper class of the time.

Wharton was born in 1862 in New York City and was the only child of a wealthy and well-educated family. From an early age, she was trained in etiquette, languages, and the fine arts. After completing her education, she entered New York society and began her writing career in 1889 with the short story "Mrs. Manstey's View," which was published in Century Magazine.

Wharton went on to write several novels, including The House of Mirth (1905), Ethan Frome (1911), and, her most famous and highly praised work, The Age of Innocence (1920). The House of Mirth is set in turn-of-the-century New York and recounts the beauty, lost innocence and tragedy of Lily Bart, a young girl in the city’s restrictive upper class. Ethan Frome is a coming-of-age story set in a small town in which a young man breaks with his family’s expectations and realizes his hidden potential. Lastly, The Age of Innocence is the story of Newland Archer, a man in an upper-class New York marriage who is tempted by a new and different kind of life.

Wharton’s writing has been praised for its depth and insight. Critics have lauded her ability to capture and convey the nuances of life. Her works are often filled with details and nuances of society, creating a vivid and full picture of the people and places she writes about.

Wharton was an early feminist. In fact, she was the first woman to receive an honorary degree from Yale in 1930. She was a member of the National Institute of Arts and Letters and was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1921 for The Age of Innocence. Throughout her career, she wrote more than 40 books.

Wharton’s legacy has endured for more than a century and her influence still reverberates today. She is remembered not just as a brilliant author, but also as a social critic who expertly explored the nuances of the American upper class and championed gender equality. Her works have been the inspiration for books, films, plays, and operas.

Edith Wharton is a brilliant and revered author who has deeply impacted American literature. Her books transport readers to a different era and observe the beauty, tragedy, and moral dilemmas of the people of the time. Her works are immortal in their insight into the human experience and will continue to be celebrated by readers for many years to come.