Edith Wharton, página 7 de 29

Edith Whartons novella, The Descent of Man is a symbolically laden literary work exploring the societal ills of capitalist America at the turn of the twentieth century. The work centers around two families who represent respectively, the old aristocratic class in decline, and the new entrepreneurial class in ascendancy.

Years ago I said to myself: "Theres no such thing as old age; there is only sorrow."I have learned with the passing of time that this, though true, is not the whole truth. The other producer of old age is habit: the deathly process of doing the same thing in the same way at the same hour day after day, first from carelessness, then from inclination, at last from cowardice or inertia. Luckily the inconsequent life is not the only alternative; for caprice is as ruinous as routine. Habit is necessary; it is the habit of having habits, of turning a trail into a rut, that must be incessantly fought against if one is to remain alive.

Edith Whartons Kerfol is a story of young love and how it can be thwarted by the power of money. Oliver and Jane never anticipated that their love would be tested by the injustices of class and gender. They both believed that they could overcome these societal norms, but Oliver was too afraid to defy his mother. This fear led him to continue to play out this charade for years, all while destroying Janes heart in the process.

Nora Frenway settled down furtively in her corner of the Pullman and, as the express plunged out of the Grand Central Station, wondered at herself for being where she was. The porter came along. "Ticket?""Westover." She had instinctively lowered her voice and glanced about her. But neither the porter nor her nearest neighboursfortunately none of them known to herseemed in the least surprised or interested by the statement that she was travelling to Westover.Yet what an earthshaking announcement it was! Not that she cared, now; not that anything mattered except the one overwhelming fact which had convulsed her life, hurled her out of her easy velvetlined rut, and flung her thus naked to the public scrutiny. Cautiously, again, she glanced about her to make doubly sure that there was no one, absolutely no one, in the Pullman whom she knew by sight.

YOU idiot! said his wife, and threw down her cards.I turned my head away quickly, to avoid seeing Hayley Delanes face; though why I wished to avoid it I could not have told you, much less why I should have imagined (if I did) that a man of his age and importance would notice what was happening to the wholly negligible features of a youth like myself.I turned away so that he should not see how it hurt me to hear him called an idiot, even in jokewell, at least half in joke; yet I often thought him an idiot myself, and bad as my own poker was, I knew enough of the game to judge that hiswhen he wasnt attendingfully justified such an outburst from his wife. Why her sally disturbed me I couldnt have said; nor why, when it was greeted by a shrill guffaw from her latest, young Bolton Byrne, I itched to cuff the little bounder; nor why, when Hayley Delane, on whom banter always dawned slowly but certainly, at length gave forth his low rich gurgle of appreciationwhy then, most of all, I wanted to blot the whole scene from my memory. Why?

On a January evening of the early seventies, Christine Nilsson was singing in Faust at the Academy of Music in New York.Though there was already talk of the erection, in remote metropolitan distances above the Forties, of a new Opera House which should compete in costliness and splendour with those of the great European capitals, the world of fashion was still content to reassemble every winter in the shabby red and gold boxes of the sociable old Academy. Conservatives cherished it for being small and inconvenient, and thus keeping out the new people whom New York was beginning to dread and yet be drawn to; and the sentimental clung to it for its historic associations, and the musical for its excellent acoustics, always so problematic a quality in halls built for the hearing of music.

A girl came out of lawyer Royalls house, at the end of the one street of North Dormer, and stood on the doorstep.It was the beginning of a June afternoon. The springlike transparent sky shed a rain of silver sunshine on the roofs of the village, and on the pastures and larchwoods surrounding it. A little wind moved among the round white clouds on the shoulders of the hills, driving their shadows across the fields and down the grassy road that takes the name of street when it passes through North Dormer. The place lies high and in the open, and lacks the lavish shade of the more protected New England villages. The clump of weeping-willows about the duck pond, and the Norway spruces in front of the Hatchard gate, cast almost the only roadside shadow between lawyer Royalls house and the point where, at the other end of the village, the road rises above the church and skirts the black hemlock wall enclosing the cemetery.

Selden paused in surprise. In the afternoon rush of the Grand Central Station his eyes had been refreshed by the sight of Miss Lily Bart.It was a Monday in early September, and he was returning to his work from a hurried dip into the country; but what was Miss Bart doing in town at that season? If she had appeared to be catching a train, he might have inferred that he had come on her in the act of transition between one and another of the country-houses which disputed her presence after the close of the Newport season; but her desultory air perplexed him. She stood apart from the crowd, letting it drift by her to the platform or the street, and wearing an air of irresolution which might, as he surmised, be the mask of a very definite purpose. It struck him at once that she was waiting for some one, but he hardly knew why the idea arrested him. There was nothing new about Lily Bart, yet he could never see her without a faint movement of interest: it was characteristic of her that she always roused speculation, that her simplest acts seemed the result of far-reaching intentions.

Edith Whartons "The Glimpses of the Moon" is a captivating exploration of love, wealth, and societal expectations set against the backdrop of New Yorks elite in the 1920s. Whartons prose is both elegant and incisive, weaving rich character development with keen social commentary. The novel intricately dissects the lives of its protagonists, Nick and Elise, two socialites who marry not out of love but for financial convenience, ultimately revealing the insidious nature of wealth and the pursuit of happiness. Whartons literary context, deeply rooted in the Gilded Age and the subsequent social changes, enhances the narrative, employing irony and realism to reflect the moral dilemmas of her characters. Edith Wharton, a prominent figure in American literature, was acutely aware of the intricacies of high society, having been born into it herself. Her experiences as a socialite provided her with firsthand insight into the complexities of wealth and the emotional void it can create. This background, coupled with her skillful narrative techniques, enables her to poignantly illuminate the contrasts between superficial glamour and genuine connection in "The Glimpses of the Moon." This novel is highly recommended for readers interested in early 20th-century American literature and the intricate interplay between personal desires and societal pressures. Whartons deft storytelling invites readers to reflect on the nature of love and the compromises made in the pursuit of social status, making it a timeless exploration of human relationships.

La storia narra di un uomo un tempo appartenente alla classe medio-bassa che, a un certo punto della sua vita, ha dovuto lavorare per ottenere tutto cio che aveva. Ora, dopo aver venduto un romanzo di successo intitolato Diademi e fascine, puo rilassarsi nello stravagante appartamento della Quinta Strada che il suo romanzo gli ha concesso. Insoddisfatto della vita di ozio appena acquisita, si ritrova a vivere una tacita battaglia, del tutto maniacale, con il suo segretario appena nominato.

In "The Custom of the Country," Edith Wharton explores the intricacies of American social stratification and the often-destructive pursuit of wealth and status. Set in the early 20th century, the novel follows the ambitious Undine Spragg, a young woman whose relentless quest for upward mobility leads her through a series of turbulent relationships and societal encounters. Whartons incisive prose and keen observations are hallmarks of her literary style, blending realism with a satirical tone that critiques the materialism and moral vacuity of New Yorks elite. The narrative is deeply embedded in the historical context of the Gilded Age and the subsequent societal shifts, illuminating the tension between personal desires and social conventions. Edith Wharton, a pioneer among female authors in her time, drew upon her own experiences within upper-class society to craft this compelling narrative. Born into a wealthy New York family, Wharton was well-acquainted with the codes of propriety and the personal ambitions that fueled her characters. Her firsthand observations of both privilege and its discontents provide a rich backdrop for the novel, culminating in a profound examination of identity and aspiration. Readers seeking a critical yet engaging portrayal of societal norms will find "The Custom of the Country" an essential addition to their literary repertoire. Whartons deft exploration of ambition, class, and gender resonates with contemporary themes, making this novel not only a compelling read but also a timeless reflection on the human condition.

Edith Whartons novella "The Choice" delves into the intricate dynamics of love, societal expectations, and the pivotal decisions that shape human lives. Written in Whartons signature prose stylecharacterized by keen social observation and nuanced character developmentthe text explores the internal struggles of its protagonist, whose emotional turmoil is set against the backdrop of early 20th-century New York society. The novella encapsulates themes of individual agency and the weight of convention, presenting a compelling narrative that reflects the tensions between personal desire and societal pressure. Edith Wharton, the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, was famously attuned to the social mores and moral dilemmas of her time. Drawing from her own experiences within the upper echelons of New York society, Whartons insights into the lives of women facing the constraints imposed upon them by patriarchal norms shine through in "The Choice." Her extensive knowledge of architecture and her role as a literary innovator significantly influenced her storytelling, adding depth to the characters and their struggles. "The Choice" is a profound exploration of the human condition, making it an essential read for those interested in themes of autonomy and the complexities of love. Whartons intricate storytelling will resonate with readers who appreciate a keen psychological portrait intertwined with societal critique, thereby challenging them to reflect on their own choices within the contexts of love and duty.

This ebook compiles Edith Whartons greatest writings, including novels, novellas and short stories such as "The Age of Innocence", "Ethan Frome", "Xingu", "Bunner Sisters" and "The House of Mirth".This edition has been professionally formatted and contains several tables of contents. The first table of contents (at the very beginning of the ebook) lists the titles of all novels included in this volume. By clicking on one of those titles you will be redirected to the beginning of that work, where youll find a new TOC that lists all the chapters and sub-chapters of that specific work.

Twilight Sleepis a novel by American author Edith Wharton and was first published in 1927 as a serial in the Pictorial Review before being published as a novel in the same year. The story, filled with irony, is centered around a socialite family navigating the New York of the Jazz Age and their relationships. This novel landed at number one on the best-selling list just two months after its publication and finished the year at number 7. Even as a best selling novel Twilight Sleep was not well received by critics at the time, who, while appreciating Wharton as a writer, struggled with the scenarios and characters she had created in the novel. While it was not considered as such in its own time period, today Twilight Sleep is widely considered to be a modernist novel as it employs modernist literary devices, such as an ever changing narration among the novels characters and a close examination of the characters self-identities and relationships with one another.Edith Wharton (January 24, 1862 August 11, 1937) was an American writer and designer. Wharton drew upon her insiders knowledge of the upper-class New York "aristocracy" to portray realistically the lives and morals of the Gilded Age. In 1921, she became the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction, for her novel The Age of Innocence. She was inducted into the National Womens Hall of Fame in 1996. Among her other well known works are The House of Mirth, the novella Ethan Frome, and several notable ghost stories.

“Almas vencidas” es uno de los textos más representativos de la obra de Edith Wharton: y en él se reflejan los temas que caracterizan su obra: los problemas sociales y sentimentales derivados del mat

Set against the bleak winter landscape of New England, Ethan Frome tells the story of a poor farmer, lonely and downtrodden, his wife Zeena, and her cousin, the enchanting Mattie Silver. In the playing out of this short novel's powerful and engrossing drama, Edith Wharton constructed her least characteristic and most celebrated book. In its unyielding and shocking pessimism