Showing results by author "Edith Wharton" in All Categories

Dive into The House of Mirth (1905), a captivating novel by Edith Wharton that follows the life of Lily Bart, a New York socialite determined to find a husband and secure her place among the elite. This groundbreaking work is one of the earliest novels of manners in American literature, boldly addressing the limited social mobility afforded to women in the rigid confines of American Victorian society. (Summary from Wikipedia).

In the gripping tale of Touchstone, Stephen Glennard finds himself at a crossroads as his career crumbles, leaving him desperate for money to marry his beautiful fiancée. When he stumbles upon a tantalizing advertisement in a London magazine offering a chance at financial gain, he sees a glimmer of hope. Once the object of affection for the renowned but recently deceased author Margaret Aubyn, Glennard holds onto her passionate love letters. In a moment of moral weakness, he decides to erase his name from the letters and sell them, striking it rich while betraying the memory of a woman who ...

In Long Run, a successful bachelor businessman reflects on the romantic opportunity he lost with a captivating married woman who had enchanted both him and his college buddy in their youth. Join Matt Pierard as he explores the complexities of love, regret, and the choices that shape our lives.

Glimpses of the Moon (1922) follows the lives of Nick and Susy Lansing, a couple immersed in the lavish but hollow world of European high society, living off the generosity of their affluent friends. Their marriage, born out of convenience, allows for an open relationship, but neither is prepared for the depth of emotions that begin to surface, challenging their carefree existence. (Summary by Elizabeth Klett)

In her groundbreaking 1920 novel, Edith Wharton tells the story of Newland Archer, a privileged gentleman navigating the intricate web of Old New York society. Engaged to the lovely May Welland, Newlands life takes an unexpected turn when he becomes captivated by Mays enigmatic cousin, Ellen Olenska. Recently returned from Europe after a scandalous separation, Ellen challenges the conventions of their world and stirs Newland’s deepest desires. Join us for this compelling journey through love, duty, and societal expectations, narrated by Elizabeth Klett, with proof listening by Stav Nisser & ...

In the heart of France, Kate Cephane lives in self-imposed exile, having left her three-year-old daughter, Anne, behind in the wake of a tumultuous marriage and a fleeting affair. When Anne reaches out, asking her mother to return for her engagement, Kate must navigate the treacherous waters of New Yorks elite society, risking scandal and scorn to mend their fractured relationship. However, upon discovering the identity of Annes fiancé, Kate is thrust into a heartbreaking dilemma how to thwart the impending marriage without exposing her own troubled past. With everything at stake, she faces ...

In Edith Whartons captivating 1907 novella, we delve into the lives of Americans navigating love and longing in Paris. John Durham, a hopeful New Yorker, travels to the City of Light with the intention of rekindling his romance with Fanny Frisbee, now the esteemed Marquis de Malrive. Although Fanny yearns to escape her troubled marriage and return to America with John, the obstacles posed by her Catholic husband loom large. When John encounters the intriguing Madame de Treymes, Fannys sister-in-law, he sees a glimmer of hope that she might assist them in their pursuit of happiness. (...

Short stories have always been a sort of instant access into an author’s brain, their soul and heart. They can lift our lives into locations, people and experiences with a sweep of landscape, narration, feelings and emotions that is difficult to achieve elsewhere. A decade of monumental change and slaughter. Many of society’s telling questions are cast aside in times of that speak of greater needs, greater priorities. For these talented authors their ideas and words keep these magnificent stories at the forefront of our literary lives.

In Edith Whartons poignant early novella, we follow the journey of Kate Orme, who starts off blissfully in love with her fiancé, only to uncover a dark and shocking secret that will change everything. Join Elizabeth Klett as she brings this gripping tale to life.

In Sanctuary, Kate Orme grapples with the shocking revelation of her fiancés involvement in a devastating tragedy and societys disturbing tendency to turn a blind eye to such transgressions. Despite her misgivings, she marries him, only to find herself years later confronting a hauntingly similar moral dilemma through her son. As he faces his own crisis, the echoes of his fathers moral failings resurface, challenging their familys legacy. (Introduction by Christine Dufour)

In Whartons evocative 1917 novella Summer, we are transported to the quaint yet stifling town of North Dormer, where Charity Royall dreams of breaking free from her constrained life and the unwelcome advances of her guardian, Mr. Royall. When the charismatic city boy, Lucius Harney, arrives to explore the regions architecture, he brings with him the promise of hope and new beginnings. But will his presence be Charitys ticket to salvation, or will it lead her down a path of ruin? (Introduction by Elizabeth Klett)

In The Edith Wharton Library, we open the drawing-room doors of another age and read the novels, tales, and travels in which society’s bright surfaces so often betray a darker design. Here are marriages arranged like treaties, fortunes that tremble at a whisper, and hearts that learn - too late - the cost of propriety.Each episode offers a full-length chapter reading, patiently and plainly delivered, for listeners who prefer their drama civilized, their comedy edged, and their ghosts the sort that appear most often in daylight.

Discover the powerful yet often overlooked novel Son At The Front by Edith Wharton, the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Literature. Known for her keen social observations and deep compassion, Wharton takes us into the heart of World War I through the eyes of two divorced parents. John and Julia are grappling with the reality of their son, George, who defies their wishes to serve his country. Julia, horrified by his enlistment, clashes with Johns secret pride alongside Georges stepfather. As their son faces the uncertainties of war, will he return home alive? Join us as we explore the...

The Age of Innocence follows an upper-class couple on the brink of marriage, whose happiness is jeopardized by the arrival of a woman entangled in scandal. Edith Whartons novel deftly explores the morals and expectations of 1870s New York society, providing a nuanced portrayal that avoids outright condemnation of its social structures. Wharton regarded this work as an apology for her earlier, more critical novel, The House of Mirth. Rich in detail, she illuminates the charms and customs of the upper class, earning her the first Pulitzer Prize awarded to a woman. At age 58, Wharton had lived ...

Dive into the poignant world of American author Edith Wharton, renowned for her incisive novels of manners set against the backdrop of old New York. Yet, her heart was deeply entwined with France, where she resided in Paris during World War I and passionately engaged in refugee efforts. Her 1918 novella, The Marne, vividly captures the harrowing events of the war through the eyes of 15-year-old Troy Belknap, an American boy yearning to enlist and defend the country he holds dear. (Summary by Elizabeth Klett)

In the wake of World War I, American novelist Edith Wharton found herself in Paris, compelled to bear witness to the realities of war. With permission to traverse the front lines, she journeyed through devastated villages, bustling hospitals, and the trenches themselves. Fighting France chronicles her poignant travels between 1914 and 1915, capturing not only the harrowing experiences of the time but also the unwavering spirit of the French people. (Summary by Elizabeth Klett)

Un empleado de una compañía eléctrica ha sido enviado a estudiar la zona de un pequeño pueblo de Massachussets. Allí será cobijado, en una noche de tormenta, por Ethan Frome, quien debe soportar diariamente la compañía de su esposa Zeena, enfermiza y aprensiva, pendiente nada más que de los más ligeros síntomas que puedan estropear su quebradiza salud. A su lado, Mattie, muchacha joven, trabajadora y delicada, quien irá despertando poco a poco en Ethan un amor adormecido por tanto desdén y enfermedad.

Un empleado de una compañía eléctrica ha sido enviado a estudiar la zona de un pequeño pueblo de Massachussets. Allí será cobijado, en una noche de tormenta, por Ethan Frome, quien debe soportar diariamente la compañía de su esposa Zeena, enfermiza y aprensiva, pendiente nada más que de los más ligeros síntomas que puedan estropear su quebradiza salud. A su lado, Mattie, muchacha joven, trabajadora y delicada, quien irá despertando poco a poco en Ethan un amor adormecido por tanto desdén y enfermedad.

La trama se centra en Jane, una mujer que se encuentra en una situación socialmente desafiante. En la historia, Jane es encargada con una misión que no solo pone a prueba su ingenio e inteligencia, sino que también la enfrenta a las normas y expectativas sociales de su tiempo. A través de su viaje, Jane se encuentra navegando entre las complicadas estructuras de la clase y el género, desafiando de manera sutil las convenciones de su entorno.

El relato se centra en un triángulo amoroso situado en el contexto de la alta sociedad. La trama gira en torno a dos hombres, amigos cercanos, que se encuentran enamorados de la misma mujer. Esta situación pone a prueba no solo sus sentimientos románticos sino también su amistad y lealtad. La mujer en cuestión es retratada como una figura encantadora y codiciada, cuya elección entre estos dos hombres es un punto central de la historia.