Edith Wharton: Beyond the Age of Innocence - Hardcover

Turk, Ruth

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0936389451 ISBN 13: 9780936389455

Publisher: Tudor Pub, 1998

Synopsis

A biography of a prolific writer whose novels portrayed upper-class life at the turn of the twentieth century.

About this title

From School Library Journal:

Grade 7 Up. Turk introduces readers to the works of this American writer and shows how childhood circumstances, adult decisions, and social surroundings influenced her choices of topic, plot, and character. An epilogue explains how Wharton's New York has changed and what happened to some old landmarks, a few of which appear in the accompanying black-and-white photographs. Quotes from Wharton's letters and her autobiography A Backward Glance are included. The text is generally clear and easy to understand, but the grammar is sometimes loose and too casual. Also, a red flag is sent up regarding the author's research when she describes the crash scene in Ethan Frome as "Their plan to die in an automobile crash on an icy hill." Automobiles had not yet been invented at the time the story took place. This error, combined with less-than-scholarly writing, leaves this title better left untouched.?Joan Soulliere, formerly at Wenham Public Library, MA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist:

Gr. 7^-10. Edith Wharton lived the classic poor-little-rich-girl childhood in late-nineteenth-century New York society, where her main comforts were books and a lively imagination. She began writing novels at age 11, using wrapping paper saved by the servants because her disapproving mother would not let her have writing paper. Adulthood brought freedom and a marriage of convenience to wealthy sportsman Edward Wharton. In time, Edith was able to transform her considerable literary gifts into major, successful novels and to become a popular and respected member of salon society at home and in Paris. Although readers may not be familiar with Wharton's work or get a true sense of how much energy she poured into her writing, Turk crafts an engaging portrait, particularly regarding Wharton's struggle to overcome an unsupportive family and her significant war-relief work in Paris. Interesting black-and-white photographs enhance the account. Bibliography; chronology. Anne O'Malley

About this edition

• Publisher: Tudor Pub
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0936389451
• ISBN 13: 9780936389455
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 10