Edith Wharton was an American novelist, short story writer, and designer. Her works include The Age of Innocence, The House of Mirth, Ethan Frome, and many others.
Born in 1862 in New York City
Grew up in an affluent family and traveled extensively throughout Europe
Published her first book, a collection of poetry, at the age of 16
Married Edward Wharton in 1885 and moved to Europe
Began writing fiction in the 1890s and became a successful novelist in the early 1900s
Won the Pulitzer Prize in 1921 for The Age of Innocence
Was the first woman to receive an honorary degree from Yale University
Died in France in 1937
An American novelist and critic who was a close friend and contemporary of Wharton. Known for works like The Portrait of a Lady and The Turn of the Screw.
An American novelist and short story writer who was a younger contemporary of Wharton. Best known for works like The Great Gatsby and Tender Is the Night.
An American author who was a contemporary of Wharton. Best known for her novel The Awakening.
A novel set in 1870s New York City that explores the social mores of the time. Won the Pulitzer Prize in 1921.
A novel about a young woman named Lily Bart who is struggling to find a place for herself in New York society. Examines themes of wealth, status, and the limitations placed on women at the time.
A novella set in rural Massachusetts that tells the tragic story of a man trapped in a loveless marriage. Features a bleak, wintry setting and explores themes of isolation and despair.
Wharton's writing is characterized by its attention to detail, its psychological insight, and its exploration of social norms and conventions. She often wrote about the lives of wealthy New Yorkers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and her work is known for its realism and its incisive critique of upper-class society.
Wharton's most famous book is probably The Age of Innocence, a novel set in 1870s New York City. The book won the Pulitzer Prize in 1921, and was later adapted into a successful film by Martin Scorsese.
Wharton was born into an affluent New York City family and spent much of her life traveling in Europe. Her exposure to different cultures and social classes, combined with her interest in literature, likely contributed to her desire to become a writer. She began writing poetry in her teens, and later turned to fiction.
Wharton's work explores a variety of themes, including the constraints of social convention, the role of women in society, the tension between individual desire and societal expectations, and the psychological effects of living in close proximity to others.
Yes, Wharton was a successful novelist and a respected member of the literary community during her lifetime. She was the first woman to receive an honorary degree from Yale University, and her work was widely read and admired by her contemporaries.