Edith Wharton

Twilight Sleep is a novel by American author Edith Wharton and was first published in 1927. The story, filled with irony, is centered around a socialite family navigating the New York of the Jazz Age and their relationships. This novel landed at number one on the best-selling list just two months after its publication and finished the year at number 7. Twilight Sleep is widely considered to be a modernist novel as it employs modernist literary devices, such as an ever changing narration among th

Edith Wharton's masterpiece brings to life the grandeur and hypocrisy of a gilded age. Set among the very rich in 1870s New York, it tells the story of Newland Archer, a young lawyer engaged to marry virginal socialite May Welland, when he meets her cousin, Countess Ellen Olenska, a woman unbound by convention and surrounded by scandal. As all three are drawn into a love triangle filled with sensuality, subtlety, and betrayal, Archer faces a harrowing choice between happiness and the social code that has ruled his life. The resulting tale of thwarted love is filled with irony and surprise, struggle and acceptance. Recipient of the first Pulitzer Prize for fiction ever awarded to a woman, this great novel paints a timeless portrait of "society" still unmatched in American literature-an arbitrary, capricious social elite that professes inviolable standards but readily abandons them for greed and desire.

An elegantly hair-raising collection of Edith Wharton's ghost stories, selected and with a preface written by the author herself. No history of the American uncanny tale would be complete without mention of Edith Wharton, yet many of Wharton's most dedicated admirers are unaware that she was a master of the form. In fact, one of Wharton's final literary acts was assembling Ghosts, a personal selection of her most chilling stories, written between 1902 and 1937. In "The Lady's Maid's Bell," the earliest tale included here, a servant's dedication to her mistress continues from beyond the grave, and in "All Souls," the last story Wharton wrote, an elderly woman treads the permeable line between life and the hereafter. In all her writing, Wharton's great gift was to mercilessly illuminate the motives of men and women, and her ghost stories never stray far from the preoccupations of the living, using the supernatural to investigate such worldly matters as violence within marriage, the horrors of aging, the rot at the root of new fortunes, the darkness that stares back from the abyss of one's own soul. These are stories to "send a cold shiver down one's spine," not to terrify, and as Wharton explains in her preface, her goal in writing them was to counter "the hard grind of modern speeding-up" by preserving that ineffable space of "silence and continuity," which is not merely the prerogative of humanity but--"in the fun of the shudder"--its delight. ContentsAll Souls'The EyesAfterwardThe Lady's Maid's BellKerfolThe Triumph of NightMiss Mary PaskBewitchedMr. JonesPomegranate SeedA Bottle of Perrier

Part of the Chiltern Classics range. The Age Of Innocence tells the story of a wealthy lawyer Newland Archer, who is engaged to sweet socialite May Welland in 1870s New York. On the surface, it is a perfect match. But when May's beautiful cousin Countess Ellen Olenska, who is estranged from her brutish husband, arrives in town, Newland begins to question the meaning of passion and love as he desperately pursues a relationship with Ellen, even though she has been made a social outcast by Archer's peersChiltern are publishers of exquisitely crafted editions of the world’s finest classic literature. These beautiful books are a perfect mix of tradition and the very latest in printing techniques. With wonderful original, detailed and embossed covers, sparkling gilt edges, cream art paper, ribbon markers and stitched binding they are simply the most beautiful classics ever published.

Welcome to the book series 7 best short stories specials, selection dedicated to a special subject, featuring works by noteworthy authors. The texts were chosen based on their relevance, renown and interest. This edition is dedicated to Horror. Literary historian J. A. Cuddon defined the horror story as a piece of fiction in prose of variable length... which shocks, or even frightens the reader, or perhaps induces a feeling of repulsion or loathing. Horror intends to create an eerie and frightening atmosphere for the reader. Horror is often divided into the psychological horror and supernatural horror sub-genres. Often the central menace of a work of horror fiction can be interpreted as a metaphor for the larger fears of a society. This book contains the following texts: The Phantom Coach by Amelia B. Edwards, Afterward by Edith Wharton, The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe, The Monkey's Paw by W. W. Jacobs, The Signal-Man by Charles Dickens, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving and The Call of Cthulhu by H. P. Lovecraft. For more books with interesting themes, be sure to check the other books in this collection

This is many of the old books which has been considered important throughout the human history. They are now extremely scarce and very expensive antique. So that this work is never forgotten We republish them in high quality, using the original text and artwork so that they can be preserved for the present and future generations. This whole book has been reformatted, retyped and designed. These books are not made of scanned copies of their original work and hence the text is clear and readable.

Young and aristocratic Newland Archer is engaged to the sheltered and beautiful May Welland. But when May's disgraced cousin Ellen arrives from Europe, she turns their high-society New York world upside down. The young, successful Newland Archer and sweet socialite May Welland are the high society couple they were always meant to be. However, fresh on the heels of their engagement, they find their world upended by the scandalous arrival of May’s cousin, Countess Ellen Olenska. Recently separated from her husband and surrounded in rumors, Ellen returns to America and is reluctantly befriended by Archer and his bride to be. Initially disturbed, Archer grows more appreciative of Ellen’s free-spirited ways as she opens his eyes to the world past Fifth Avenue. Torn between his loyalty to his marriage and disillusion with New York aristocracy, Archer begins to question all that he knows about love and passion while hopelessly pursuing the unattainable Countess. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Age of Innocence is both modern and readable.

Undine Spragg is a beautiful and ambitious, yet vain and socially dense young woman with dreams of marrying a rich man. Hoping for a life of prominence and luxury, Undine convinces her family to relocate to New York. The Spragg family, who have a earned their modest wealth from shady practices, are happy to accommodate Undine’s request. When Undine meets Ralph Marvell, an aspiring poet from a family of old New York high society, she is determined to become his wife. After a brief courtship, she gets her wish, however, Undine soon realizes that she is still unsatisfied. Though Ralph is a good husband—kind and doting, he does not have the money to support her extravagant lifestyle. While his family enjoys an elevated social status, it is mainly just reminiscent on a prior generation’s wealth; Ralph’s family does not possess a significant amount of money. Feeling judged by her in-laws and upset that she cannot purchase luxury items, Undine is unhappy in the marriage, feeling even worse after the birth of their son, Paul. Often neglectful of Paul, Undine begins an affair with an aristocrat named Peter. As their love affair intensifies, Undine becomes set on leaving Ralph, ignoring the possible consequences of being a divorcee in pursuit of money, sex, and social status. With narrative twists and memorable characters, The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton is a fast-paced story that explores the nuances of American society. Through themes of class, lovely prose and intricate satire, The Custom of the Country pays special attention to the social class divides of 20th century America. While Wharton’s novel allows modern readers to gain perspective on a specific era in America, contemporary audiences can also reflect on the ways this class system still effects social customs today. This edition of The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton now features a new, eye-catching cover design and is printed in a font that is both modern and readable. These accommodations cater to a modern audience, allowing contemporary readers to enjoy the compelling narrative of The Custom of the Country with ease.

A dazzling exploration of social currency, love, and hypocrisy among the Gilded Age’s upper crust, The House of Mirth is a classic novel that remains essential reading. Beautiful Lily Bart is a young New York socialite who enjoys everything that high society in the late 19th century has to offer. She receives plenty of interest from men, but has not yet felt compelled to marry. Although her strictly traditional Aunt Julia provides Lily with a fashionable address and other luxuries, her future livelihood is at risk if she does not commit to a wealthy man. At twenty-nine, Lily is nearing an age when her options may begin to run out. Fortunately, she is not without opportunity, as she has caught the attention of a rich bachelor named Percy Gryce. She has also attracted Lawrence Selden, a man she genuinely likes but discounts due to his limited means. With her penchant for gambling and a desire for true love without sacrifice, Lily soon finds herself outside of society’s rules and tangled up in scandal. Wharton presents us with a tremendous novel of social realism that is rich in dramatic irony. It is as much an indictment of vicious double standards as it is a tragedy of self-delusion. For as hard as Lily tries to navigate the social snubs, malicious rumors and freewheeling sexuality of her peers, all her efforts to secure her own future grow increasingly out of reach. Originally published in 1905, The House of Mirth is still as engaging and relevant as when it was first introduced. The Mint Editions version of this classic book features expressive cover art and contemporary typesetting, making it a fine addition to any bookshelf.

Originally born in an impoverished community, Charity’s parents sought out the most educated man in the nearby New England town to raise their daughter. After being surrendered to a lawyer named Royall, Charity was raised comfortably by Mr. Royall and his wife. However, when Mrs. Royall tragically passes away, Charity’s relationship with Royall is threatened. After his wife’s death, Royall begins to feel sexually attracted to Charity, and when she refuses him, their relationship becomes tense. Royall refuses to be close to her, sending proxies to take care of her. Upset and desperate to earn enough money to be able to move away and start a new life, Charity begins to work at the local library. There, she meets a young architect named Lucius, who is visiting the town to gather research for a book he is writing on colonial homes. When Charity offers to escort him around town, the two become very close, much to Royall’s dismay. Intending to marry Charity himself, Royall does his best to keep the two apart, making sure that it is known that Lucius is not welcome in his home. Still, Charity and Lucius begin a passionate love affair, progressing to a physical relationship. With secret rendezvous and passionate promises, Charity falls head over heels, but when Lucius starts missing meetings and spending time with other women, Charity is forced to wonder if he is really the man she thought she knew. When she discovers information that turns her world upside down, Charity is inspired to revisit her roots to help her make a difficult choice. With themes of class, feminism, relationships, and sexual awakening, Summer by Edith Wharton was viewed as a controversial novel when it was first published. Now, over one-hundred years later, modern audiences can appreciate the complex class and gender struggles depicted in Summer without being scandalized by the erotic content. With the use of beautiful prose filled with rich imagery, Edith Wharton’s Summer features a heart-wrenching narrative sure to keep readers engaged. Now printed in a modern, reader-friendly font, and featuring a stunning new cover design, this edition of Summer by Edith Wharton creates an accessible reading experience for contemporary audiences.

Featuring life-like and compelling characters, Edith Wharton’s Tales of Men and Ghosts is a collection comprised of ten eerie and heart-wrenching narratives. The first story, The Bolted Door, follows Hubert Granice, a failed playwright. Distraught and disappointed in himself, he considers suicide, but is unable to go through with it. Instead, Granice finds another way to punish himself; after calling over a lawyer friend, Granice confesses the dirty details of a murder he claims to have committed years before. Full Circle also depicts a writer, but in an opposite position of success. After recently rising to fame, a new author reflects on how his life has changed since earning acclaim and wealth, surprised when he realizes that he is unsatisfied. Examining class struggles and a difficult relationship between a father and son, His Father’s Son follows a widowed, working-class father who tries to live vicariously through his son’s love life, though his son does not seem to appreciate it. While most of the narratives in this collection follow the everyday lives of their characters, The Eyes adopts a more supernatural approach, depicting a spooky tale that explores sexuality in a haunting way. Afterward continues the supernatural theme, featuring a ghost who comes back to haunt a man that betrayed him for the promise of more wealth. While depicting vivid and fascinating characters, Tales of Men and Ghosts by Edith Wharton also studies social norms of the 20th century society, including repressed sexuality, strained relationships, and class distinctions. By highlighting the common flaws of humankind, such as vanity, ignorance, and greed, without damning the characters who possess such faults, Wharton’s Tales of Men and Ghosts serves as a beautiful and captivating collection of character sketches. With this character-driven prose, Tales of Men and Ghosts remains to be as relatable and alluring as it was when it was first published. Now presented in an easy-to-read font and featuring a striking new cover design, this edition of Tales of Men and Ghosts by Edith Wharton is restored to its original genius while being updated to meet modern standards.

Ethan Frome, written in 1911 by Pulitzer Prize-winning American author Edith Wharton, is set in the fictitious town of Starkfield, Massachusetts. Against a backdrop of a cold, grey, bleak New England winter, a visiting engineer staying temporarily in town while working nearby, tells the story of his encounter with Ethan Frome, who is an isolated farmer trying to scrape out a living while tending to his frigid, demanding and ungrateful wife, Zeena. The narrator's initial impressions are based on his observations of Frome, watching as he goes about his daily tasks. Something about him catches the eye and curiosity of the visitor, yet no one in town wants to discuss or reveal many details about the strange man or his background. The narrator ultimately finds himself having to stay overnight in Frome's house in order to escape a fierce winter storm and is then able to observe Frome up close. When he shares his observations with others in town it triggers them to be more forthcoming with their own knowledge and impressions. Ethan Frome is a man with a history of thwarted dreams and desires whose longing ends in an ironic turn of events. A bit of hope enters his life of despair when his wife's cousin Mattie arrives. He falls in love with her and his life is transformed but their fate is doomed by the stifling conventions of the era. This beautifully designed American Literature Classic presents compelling characters trapped in circumstances from which they seem unable to escape.

The Age of Innocence is a 1920 novel by American author Edith Wharton. It was her twelfth novel, and was initially serialized in 1920 in four parts, in the magazine Pictorial Review. Later that year, it was released as a book by D. Appleton & Company. It won the 1921 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, making Wharton the first woman to win the prize. Though the committee had initially agreed to give the award to Sinclair Lewis for Main Street, the judges, in rejecting his book on political grounds, "established Wharton as the American 'First Lady of Letters'". The story is set in the 1870s, in upper-class, "Gilded-Age" New York City. Wharton wrote the book in her 50s, after she had established herself as a strong author, with publishers clamoring for her work.

Erotic literature is genre that uses eroticism in written form, to arouse, amuse or instruct the reader about sexual practices. Erotic literature was not seen as a major problem before the invention of printing, that brought with it both a greater market and increasing restrictions - including censorship and legal restraints. Because of this, much of the production of this type of material became clandestine and many authors have remained in anonymity. Literary critic August Nemo has selected the following short stories for this book: Daphnis and Chloe by Longus, Idylll by Guy de Maupassant, Beatrice Palmato by Edith Wharton, Venus in Furs by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, The Lustful Turk by Anonymous, Sub-Umbra by Anonymous and How He Lost His Whiskers: An Episode in the Life of Steve Broad by Anonymous.

What begins as an ordinary event quickly shifts into the bizarre after the narrator, a wealthy bachelor, meets their friend, Lanvivain, at an old mansion. Thinking about purchasing the property, the narrator and Lanvivain explore the mansion at Kerfol, attracted to the vast and ordinate property. Lanvivain enthusiastically urges the bachelor to buy the property, declaring that it matches his personality exactly. The narrator, however, is unconvinced, as he is concerned when they notice how vacant the house is. The property is incredibly still—no-one is around, except a pack of dogs that are deadly silent and calm, almost as if they were just a figment of the imagination. Intrigued, the two friends decide to look into the history of the house to find the previous owners. First occupied years before, the house used to be owned by a couple. The husband, Yves, was often away on business, so to make it up to his wife, Anne, he would buy her dogs. Anne cared for her dogs dearly. She would treat them with the best care possible, and loved them like they were her own children. The sentiment that was appreciated and reciprocated by the dogs. However, as the young couple’s bond was not as strong. As Yves and Anne’s relationship started to slip into turmoil, Yves grew to be cruel, committing acts that would haunt the mansion forever. With retroactive narration and compelling characters, Kerfol by Edith Wharton follows two generations of characters in association with the same property. With skillfully crafted prose, Wharton delivers a narrative that is suspenseful and spooky, while simultaneously appealing to a sense of sentiment and mystery. Kerfol defies genre and demands attention with twists and odd phenomena. Though first published in 1916, just over one-hundred years ago, Edith Wharton’s Kerfol appeals to contemporary audiences with its unique plot, vivid setting, and timeless themes of loyalty and revenge. This edition of Kerfol by Edith Wharton is presented with a new, eye-catching cover design and is printed in a font that is both modern and readable. With these accommodations, this heart-breaking gothic horror is a tempting and alluring experience for contemporary readers.

This book has been considered important throughout the human history, and so that this work is never forgotten we have made efforts in its preservation by republishing this book in a modern format for present and future generations. This whole book has been reformatted, retyped and designed. These books are not made of scanned copies of their original work and hence the text is clear and readable.

Originally born in an impoverished community, Charity’s parents sought out the most educated man in the nearby New England town to raise their daughter. After being surrendered to a lawyer named Royall, Charity was raised comfortably by Mr. Royall and his wife. However, when Mrs. Royall tragically passes away, Charity’s relationship with Royall is threatened. After his wife’s death, Royall begins to feel sexually attracted to Charity, and when she refuses him, their relationship becomes tense. Royall refuses to be close to her, sending proxies to take care of her. Upset and desperate to earn enough money to be able to move away and start a new life, Charity begins to work at the local library. There, she meets a young architect named Lucius, who is visiting the town to gather research for a book he is writing on colonial homes. When Charity offers to escort him around town, the two become very close, much to Royall’s dismay. Intending to marry Charity himself, Royall does his best to keep the two apart, making sure that it is known that Lucius is not welcome in his home. Still, Charity and Lucius begin a passionate love affair, progressing to a physical relationship. With secret rendezvous and passionate promises, Charity falls head over heels, but when Lucius starts missing meetings and spending time with other women, Charity is forced to wonder if he is really the man she thought she knew. When she discovers information that turns her world upside down, Charity is inspired to revisit her roots to help her make a difficult choice. With themes of class, feminism, relationships, and sexual awakening, Summer by Edith Wharton was viewed as a controversial novel when it was first published. Now, over one-hundred years later, modern audiences can appreciate the complex class and gender struggles depicted in Summer without being scandalized by the erotic content. With the use of beautiful prose filled with rich imagery, Edith Wharton’s Summer features a heart-wrenching narrative sure to keep readers engaged. Now printed in a modern, reader-friendly font, and featuring a stunning new cover design, this edition of Summer by Edith Wharton creates an accessible reading experience for contemporary audiences.

The classic short novel of love, deceit, and tragedy, Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton has been breaking hearts and shocking readers for over a century. Ethan Frome is a ruin of a man, aged and limping. Alienated from the other residents of desolate Starkfield, Massachusetts, he can barely draw a living from the stony soil of his family farm. For twenty-four years, Frome has held a secret in his heart: he loved not his waspish wife Zeena, but her young cousin Mattie, whom Zeena depended on for care. When an enigmatic newcomer arrives in Starkfield one frigid winter and takes pity on Frome, the tragic twist of Frome’s love and desire, and the reason for his crippling injuries, are set to be revealed. Ethan Frome is a classic tragic love story. The inability of Ethan and Mattie to articulate their feelings save through gestures—as small as a broken plate, as large as a horrific accident—speak to the power of author Edith Wharton’s gimlet eye. And the reversal of fortune in the denouement continues to shake readers over a century after it was written. Adapted as a film starring Liam Neeson and Particia Arquette in 1993, Ethan Frome has broken the hearts of generations of readers. The Mint Editions version of Ethan Frome features expressive cover art and contemporary typesetting, making it a fine addition to any bookshelf.