Student Companion to Edith Wharton

(Hardback)

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Description

One of the most accomplished American writers of the early 20th century, Edith Wharton achieved both critical recognition and popular acclaim. This Student Companion provides an introduction to Wharton's fiction. Beginning with her life and career, the volume places Wharton in the context of her times, focusing on how she was shaped by the culture of wealth and privilege into which she was born. Her struggle to resist the demands of her social world paralleled her characters' lives and contributed to the power of her writing. Included are an in-depth discussion of her writing, along with analyses of thematic concerns, character development, historical context, and plot. A close critical reading covers each of her major works, with a full chapter devoted to each: The House of Mirth (1905), Ethan Frome (1911), Summer (1917), The Age of Innocence (1920), and her two novellas, Madame de Treymes (1907) and The Old Maid (1924). Another chapter addresses Wharton's short stories and considers some of her most famous and anthologized tales, such as The Other Two and Roman Fever. This companion is ideal for students who are reading Wharton for the first time, or for general readers who are seeking a greater understanding of her writing. A select bibliography offers suggestions for further reading about Wharton and includes criticism and contemporary reviews of her work.

Reviews

The writing is clear and highlights the dominant themes and elements in each work. Many of the critical concepts and alternative readings addressed make this book a solid choice for advanced literature studies.-School Library Journal
"The writing is clear and highlights the dominant themes and elements in each work. Many of the critical concepts and alternative readings addressed make this book a solid choice for advanced literature studies."-School Library Journal

Author Bio

MELISSA McFARLAND PENNELL is Professor of English at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, where she coordinates its American Studies program. She is the author of the Student Companion to Nathaniel Hawthorne (Greenwood, 1999) as well as numerous articles on a variety of American writers.