Edith Wharton
Edith Wharton was a remarkable American novelist, born in 1862 into a privileged New York family. She became a keen observer of the social intricacies and moral dilemmas of her time, often drawing inspiration from her own experiences in the upper echelons of society. With a sharp wit and an eye for detail, Wharton's writing vividly captures the complexities of human relationships, particularly within the confines of high society. Her most celebrated works, such as "The Age of Innocence" and "Ethan Frome," showcase her mastery in exploring themes of love, duty, and societal expectations.
Wharton’s literary contributions extend beyond fiction; she was also a talented designer and a significant figure in the realm of architecture and interior design. Her passion for culture and aesthetics enriched her storytelling, making her narratives not only engaging but also deeply reflective of the time's cultural landscape. As you delve into her works in the app, you'll discover a nuanced perspective on early 20th-century America, inviting you to reflect on the timeless themes of ambition, desire, and the struggle for personal freedom. Enjoy your exploration of her literary world!
The House of Mirth
Read by Elizabeth Klett
Edith Wharton
The House of Mirth (1905), by Edith Wharton, is a novel about New York socialite Lily Bart attempting to secure a husband and a place in ric…
The Age of Innocence
Read by Brenda Dayne
Edith Wharton
In an era before the advent of electric lights, telephones or motor vehicles, there exists a small cluster of aristocratic "old revolut…
The Age of Innocence (version 2)
Read by Elizabeth Klett
Edith Wharton
Edith Wharton became the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for fiction with this 1920 novel about Old New York society. Newland Archer …
Ethan Frome
Read by Elizabeth Klett
Edith Wharton
Edith Wharton's 1911 novel Ethan Frome tells the story of a tragic love triangle. Set in the highly symbolic wintry landscape of Starkfield,…
The Glimpses of the Moon
Read by Elizabeth Klett
Edith Wharton
"The Glimpses of the Moon" (1922) is about Nick and Susy Lansing, both of whom live a decadent life in Europe by sponging off weal…
Summer (version 2)
Read by Elizabeth Klett
Edith Wharton
Wharton's 1917 novella Summer, like her more famous work Ethan Frome, is set in a very small rural New England town. Charity Royall longs t…
The Touchstone
Read by Elizabeth Klett
Edith Wharton
Stephen Glennard's career is falling apart and he desperately needs money so that he may marry his beautiful fiancee. He happens upon an adv…
The Custom of the Country (version 2)
Read by Elizabeth Klett
Edith Wharton
Edith Wharton's 1913 novel is a devastating critique of American upward mobility, told through the journey of Undine Spragg from fictional M…
Madame de Treymes
Read by Elizabeth Klett
Edith Wharton
Edith Wharton's 1907 novella explores the milieu of Americans living abroad in Paris. New Yorker John Durham travels to Paris to woo an old…
Sanctuary (version 2)
Read by Elizabeth Klett
Edith Wharton
Edith Wharton's early novella focuses on Kate Orme, who begins the story happily in love with her fiance, only to discover that he hides a t…
Ethan Frome (version 2)
Read by Bob Neufeld
Edith Wharton
Ethan Frome is a novel published in 1911 by the Pulitzer Prize-winning American author Edith Wharton. It is set in the fictitious town of St…
Crucial Instances
Read by Elizabeth Klett
Edith Wharton
This is Edith Wharton's second published collection of short stories (1901). One of these seven stories, "Copy: A Dialogue," is w…
Summer
Read by Robin Cotter
Edith Wharton
The story is one of only two novels by Wharton to be set in New England. The novel details the sexual awakening of its protagonist, Charity …
The Greater Inclination
Read by Elizabeth Klett
Edith Wharton
This is Edith Wharton's earliest published collection of short stories (1899). Like much of her later work, they touch on themes of marriag…
The Decoration of Houses
Read by LibriVox Volunteers
Edith Wharton
The Decoration of Houses, a manual of interior design written by Edith Wharton with architect Ogden Codman, was first published in 1897. In …
Tales of Men and Ghosts
Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019)
Edith Wharton
Tales of Men and Ghosts was published as a collection in 1910, though the first eight of the stories had earlier appeared in Scribner's and …
The Descent of Man and Other Stories
Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019)
Edith Wharton
This collection of ten stories, first published in 1904, shows Edith Wharton dissecting some of the customs, habits and vagaries of courtshi…
The Fruit of the Tree
Read by Margaret Espaillat
Edith Wharton
When published in 1907, this novel about the lives of a wealthy mill owner, her socially progressive husband and friends caused a stir due t…
El País del Placer
Read by Victor Villarraza
Edith Wharton
El país del placer llamada así por la primera traducción en español de esta novela de Edith Wharton publicada po…
Bunner Sisters
Read by Margaret Espaillat
Edith Wharton
“Bunner Sisters,” like “The Age of Innocence” is set in 1870s New York, however the lives of Ann Eliza and Evelina Bunner reflect impoverish…