A Feast of Words
The Triumph of Edith Wharton

The mystery of how a wealthy New York socialite became a major American novelist is brilliantly explored in this fascinating critical biography, widely considered to be the most perceptive introduction to Edith Whartons life and work. This new edition includes two chapters: one on Lily Bart and the lethal stereotypes of women on the nineteenthcentury stage, and another on the way Whartons own sensual awakening led from the frozen austerity of Ethan Frome to the lyricism and tempered happiness of Summer. Everyone who admires Whartons novels or enjoys the films made from them will want to experience this superb biography.