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. 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 newbold jones was born into such wealth and privilege that her family inspired the phrase keeping up with the joneses. As a daughter of society, edith was expected to learn the mannerisms and rituals that were appropriate to her social class. Edith wharton was a famous american author who won the pulitzer prize for writing the age of innocence. The edith wharton bbc radio drama collection audiobook. A very short biography of edith wharton interesting literature. Wharton drew upon her insiders knowledge of the upper class new york aristocracy to realistically portray the lives and morals of the gilded age. American novelist whose best known works include the age of innocence 1920, ethan frome 1911, and the house of mirth 1905. Many of her works have been made into movies, television movies, and television series. Among whartons most famous novels is the age of innocence, which was filmed in 1993.
Her funeral service was held at the american cathedral of the holy trinity in paris of which her father was a founding member. With commercial success and critical acclaim, theres no doubt that edith wharton is one of the most popular authors of the last 100 years. She spent much of her younger years going around europe with them. Best edith wharton books list of popular edith wharton. The most famous novel she wrote was the age of innocence 1920. 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. Although most were poor and not part of her refined world, she was fascinated.
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. 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. Works of edith wharton 31 books kindle edition by wharton. Yet it would be reductive to think of her meticulous prose and craftswomanship as transparent windows into her personal life. 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. This is the story of a poor farmer and miller who becomes hopelessly. Ethan frome, published in 1911, is one of edith whartons most famous works.
Edith wharton died of a stroke on 11 august 1937 at pavillon colombe. At the same time, it is in some ways the most passionately argued. Her writing style is called social realism, a style of the later part of the nineteenth century. Edith wharton books list of books by author edith wharton. She was buried on 14 august in the cimetiere des gonards, versailles, france.
Her popular novels, known for their dramatic irony, earned her the pulitzer prize and multiple nobel prize nominations. 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. Edith wharton, nee edith newbold jones, born january 24, 1862, new york, new york, u. A pulitzer prizewinning novelist, wharton is known for her sharp wit and observations about class in america. January 24, 1862 august 11, 1937 was an american novelist, short story writer, playwright, and designer. The novelist bestknown for the age of innocence led an interesting life, and in this very short biography we aim to cover the most curious aspects of edith whartons life and work. Edith wharton biography and list of works edith wharton books. Edith wharton was born edith jones in 1862, into the leisure class of new york. 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. 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. What is most notable about a backward glance, however, is what it does not tell. Edith wharton family was upper class a group of people who has a lot of money. 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.
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. The house of mirth starring carole mowlam, keith alexander and alexander john. Edith whartons former newport mansion hits the market for. Edith wharton simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Edith wharton books biography and list of works author of the. 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. Edith wharton biography born edith newbold jones, to a wealthy new york family, edith combined her insights into the privileged classes with her natural wit to write books and short fiction notable for their humor and incisiveness. 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 books biography and list of works author of.
Edith wharton was very knowledgable on all aspects of architecture and gardening, so she oversaw everything during its construction. Mar 09, 2015 the best place to start with edith wharton is with her fourth and second most famous novel, the house of mirth. Some of her most famous fictional works depict new york hi society in the late nineteenth century. Edith wharton biography childhood, life achievements. A bbc radio collection of fullcast dramatisations, bringing together edith whartons most popular and bestloved works.
This is the story of a poor farmer and miller who becomes hopelessly in love with the young cousin of his sinister wife. 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. 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. 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 was born into a privileged new york family in 1862 and died in france in 1937. 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. She was best known for her stories and novels about the upperclass society into which she was born, and thus wellacquainted with. Her family was fairly wealthy and out of three children, she was the youngest. Edith wharton was a pulitzer prizewinning american writer who was also nominated for the nobel prize in literature in 1927, 1928 and 1930. It prevailed mostly as a reaction to the romanticism that had taken up most of the century in its grip. 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 s stories with original dates of publication.
Edith wharton biography famous people in history, famous. But the greatest treat about reading the works of edith wharton is her writing itself elegant, impeccable. The protagonist, the farmer ethan frome, is married to a whining hypochondriac but falls in love with her cousin, mattie. Edith whartons style included the use of subtle dramatic irony. Ethan frome, summer, bunner sisters by edith wharton. The mount would be the home to the whartons for ten years. 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. 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. A national historic landmark, today the mount is a cultural center that celebrates the intellectual, artistic and humanitarian legacy of edith wharton.
She won a pulitzer prize for a novel she published in 1920 called the age of innocence. Here she would write some of her greatest works, including the house of mirth 1905 and ethan frome 1911. 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. The whartons sold the mount in 1911, they divorced in 19. In 1921, she was the first woman to win the pulitzer prize for literature. Edith wharton, it is clear, did not wait until 1920 to write about combat. 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. Early years edith wharton, an american author and pulitzer prize winner, is known for. How does ethan frome relate to edith whartons life.
Edith wharton january 24, 1862 august 11, 1937 won the 1921 pulitzer prize for the age of innocence. Her parents, george and lucretia jones, had roots in aristocracy dating back three centuries. The mount is a turnofthecentury home, designed and built by edith wharton in 1902. Her protagonists are most often tragic heroes or heroines portrayed as intelligent and emotional people who want more out of life. Author of the age of innocence, ethan frome, and the house of mirth, she wrote over 40 books in 40. The greatest works of edith wharton the custom of the. Edith wharton was an american author born on january 24, 1862, in new york city. 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 protagonists are most often tragic heroes or heroines portrayed as. Edith wharton was an american novelist, short story writer, playwright, and designer.
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. Edith wharton biography, quotes, works and writings. Works by edith wharton 18621937 edith wharton s stories with original dates of publication. Wharton waxkeep publishing collections provide historys greatest authors collected works in a convenient collection complete with a linked table of contents. Here, wharton wrote two of her most famous works, the house of mirth and ethan frome. All while her marriage disintegrated under the weight of teddy whartons mental instability. Information adapted from shari benstock, chronology of works by edith wharton in no gifts from chance, pp. At the same time, it was about peoples lives during the nineteenth century. Wharton is a master of accurate characterization, presentation of the most telling details, and rich plot. Edith wharton was born edith newbold jones on january 24, 1862 in new york city. Edith wharton books biography and list of works author. Together they represent nearly a quarter century in the productive life of one of the most accomplished and admired of american writers. 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.
At her strongest and most characteristic, she is a brilliant example of. Whartons many stories about marriage, betrayal, desire, and loneliness drew from her own life experience. Edith wharton biography, books and facts famous authors. One of americas most important novelists, edith wharton was a refined, relentless chronicler of the gilded age and its social mores.
The edith wharton bbc radio drama collection audiobook by. This collection includes fullcast dramatisations of the following novels. Edith wharton biography list of works, study guides. She begin writing as a teenager and would go on to write over 40 books during her lifetime. For more information on edith whartons life and work, consult these or other sources, from which the information on this page has been derived. For a period of 15 years or more, she produced work of. We previously offered one of her creepiest tales, kerfol, as a story of the week selection. Wharton broke through these strictures to become one of americas greatest writers. As a daughter of society, edith was expected to learn the mannerisms.
The best place to start with edith wharton is with her fourth and second most famous novel, the house of mirth. She wrote this book because she had a similar life like the main character in the book. Collected in this library of america volume are no fewer than six of the works of edith wharton. 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. The greatest works of edith wharton the reef leatherbound. 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 18621937 was born into a tightly controlled society at a time when women were discouraged from achieving anything beyond a proper marriage. Edith wharton chronology from the edith wharton society.
Novellas includes only those works published separately. Italian villas and their gardens the edith wharton society. She read all of johann goethes plays and poems and the poetry of john keats. Newland archer, an aristocratic young lawyer, is engaged to the cloistered, beautiful may welland. Works by edith wharton 18621937 washington state university. Top 10 best edith wharton books best edith wharton book series. But a passionate social prophet is precisely what edith wharton became. 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. A very short biography of edith wharton interesting. Her best works, conributions to american literature. Her protagonists are most often tragic heroes or heroines portrayed as intelligent and emotional people who want more out of. 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. Works by edith wharton 18621937 edith whartons stories with original dates of publication. Want to read more edith wharton, but dont know where to start.
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