Summer is a novel by Edith Wharton published in 1917 by Charles Scribner's Sons. The story is one of only two novels by Wharton to be set in New England, who was best known for her portrayals of upper class New York society. The novel details the sexual awakening of its protagonist, Charity Royall, and shares many plot similarities with Wharton's better known novel, Ethan Frome. Only moderately well-received when originally published, Summer has had a resurgence in critical popularity since the 1960's.

The Age of Innocence is a 1920 novel by Edith Wharton which won the 1921 Pulitzer Prize. The novel takes place among New York City's upper class during the 1870s, before the advent of electric lights, telephones or motor vehicles; when there was a small cluster of aristocratic "old revolutionary stock" families that ruled New York's social life; when "being things" was better than "doing things" - one's occupation or abilities were secondary to heredity and family connections, when reputation and outward appearances came at the exclusion of everything and everyone else, and when 5th Avenue...

The Custom of the Country is a 1913 novel by Edith Wharton. It is centered on Undine Spragg, a social upstart who goes up the social ladder through marriage and divorce and remarriage, many times anew. Wavering between the Romantic and the Realist canons, the novel nevertheless follows in the wake of the literary tradition of the money-novel. It was written by Edith Wharton at a time when she herself was going through a divorce. She had, however, started writing the novel as early as Spring 1908 when she had completed six chapters

The Touchstone is a novella written by Edith Wharton. It was published in 1900 and was her first published novella.Stephen Glennard betrays a former love, selling her letters to him so that he may raise the money to marry his beautiful fiancee.Stephen Glennard's career is falling apart and he desperately needs money so that he may marry his beautiful fiancee. He happens upon an advertisement in a London magazine promising the prospect of financial gain. Glennard was once pursued by Margaret Aubyn, a famous and recently deceased author, and he still has her passionate love letters to him....

The Age of Innocence centers on one society couple's impending marriage and the introduction of a scandalous woman whose presence threatens their happiness. Though the novel questions the assumptions and mores of turn of the century New York society, it never devolves into an outright condemnation of the institution. In fact, Wharton considered this novel an "apology" for the earlier, more brutal and critical, "The House of Mirth." Not to be overlooked is the author's attention to detailing the charms and customs of this caste. The novel is lauded for its accurate portrayal of how the...

First published in 1813, this novel by best-selling author Edith Wharton, tells the story of Undine Spragg, a Midwestern girl who attempts to ascend in New York City society. Unlike other Wharton's novels, This story is not about a nice character who falls victim to society's uncongenial mores. Indeed, far from a dignified, morally superior character, the book's heroine, is a selfish monster who takes society (or rather, several different societies) head on, suffers a bit for her lack of subtlety but comes out filthy rich...

It tells the story of Undine Spragg, a Midwestern girl who attempts to ascend in New York City society.