Edith Wharton

Considered by many to be her greatest novel, Edith Wharton's The Custom of the Country tells the story of Undine Spragg, a vain and spoiled young woman determined to climb the social ladder of high society. Undine's unquenchable lust for wealth takes her from New York to Europe as she manipulates the men who have what she desires. Wharton's great talents are on full display in this scathing social commentary on the modern upper class, and Undine Spragg is one of the greatest literary anti-heroines of all time. The Custom of the Country is a selection of the New York Times Style Magazine Book Club and an adaptation is planned for Apple TV+ to be directed by Sofia Coppola.

The House of Mirth is a 1905 novel by the American author Edith Wharton. It tells the story of Lily Bart, a well-born but impoverished woman belonging to New York City's high society around the turn of the last century. Wharton creates a portrait of a stunning beauty who, though raised and educated to marry well both socially and economically, is reaching her 29th year, an age when her youthful blush is drawing to a close and her marital prospects are becoming ever more limited. The House of Mirth traces Lily's slow two-year social descent from privilege to a tragically lonely existence on the margins of society. In the words of one scholar, Wharton uses Lily as an attack on "an irresponsible, grasping and morally corrupt upper class. The House of Mirth was Wharton's second published novel and was preceded by two novellas, The Touchstone (1900), Sanctuary (1903), and one full-length novel, The Valley of Decision (1902). Her subsequent important novels are Ethan Frome (1911), The Custom of the Country (1913), and The Age of Innocence (1920) for which she won the Pulitzer Prize in 1921. These works influenced a host of American authors for two generations. They include F. Scott Fitzgerald (The Great Gatsby), Sinclair Lewis (Main Street), John O'Hara (Appointment in Samarra), and Louis Auchincloss (The House of Five Talents).

"Will writers ever recover that peculiar blend of security and alertness which characterizes Mrs. Wharton and her tradition?” -- E. M. ForsterThe Descent of Man and Other Stories offers the author’s well-known depictions of upper class life in New York, but also exhibits her remarkable talent in tales of humorous irony, history and the supernatural. Originally published in 1904 The Descent of Man and Other Stories features the author’s nuanced prose and sharply observed characters in a chain of unforgettable tales. In several Wharton examines marriage, which was frequently arranged in her era. The author digs deep into her characters to find what can hold a marriage together or slowly pull it apart. The difficulty of establishing and maintaining honest relations in a highly stratified and proper society is a consistent challenge for her characters, especially in the title story in which a man of principle finds himself misunderstood and forced to potentially compromise his beliefs. Wharton also affords glimpses into the trials of being an author, drawing both drama and humor from the profession. There’s a chance to sample the author’s ghostly fiction, which has long been appreciated by aficionados of the macabre. This is a showcase for the author’s range of interests and for her remarkable ability to tell memorable stories that strike to the heart. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Descent of Man and Other Stories is both modern and readable.

"Will writers ever recover that peculiar blend of security and alertness which characterizes Mrs. Wharton and her tradition?” -- E. M. ForsterThe Descent of Man and Other Stories offers the author’s well-known depictions of upper class life in New York, but also exhibits her remarkable talent in tales of humorous irony, history and the supernatural. Originally published in 1904 The Descent of Man and Other Stories features the author’s nuanced prose and sharply observed characters in a chain of unforgettable tales. In several Wharton examines marriage, which was frequently arranged in her era. The author digs deep into her characters to find what can hold a marriage together or slowly pull it apart. The difficulty of establishing and maintaining honest relations in a highly stratified and proper society is a consistent challenge for her characters, especially in the title story in which a man of principle finds himself misunderstood and forced to potentially compromise his beliefs. Wharton also affords glimpses into the trials of being an author, drawing both drama and humor from the profession. There’s a chance to sample the author’s ghostly fiction, which has long been appreciated by aficionados of the macabre. This is a showcase for the author’s range of interests and for her remarkable ability to tell memorable stories that strike to the heart. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Descent of Man and Other Stories is both modern and readable.

"Wharton has done nothing that equals this."-New York Times Book Review (1923)“Extraordinarily poignant…Heartrending, tragic, powerful, this is not to be missed.”-Publishers WeeklyEdith Wharton’s A Son at the Front (1923) is a stirring rumination of family, art, and the shortcomings of possession. The story, which is set on the eve of the First World War reflects the author’s own experience living in France when the “Great War” broke out. The delineation of Wartime Paris is one of great power and evocation, yet it is the immensely personal father-son relationship that is at the heart of this tragic novel. The novel begins in 1914, where John Compton is an American Artist living in Paris; he is successful in his art, yet ill-fated in personal relationships. His only son, George, who was born in France, is living in the United States with John’s ex-wife, Julia. Having recently reconnected with his son, and intent on rebuilding a meaningful relationship, George returns to Paris only to be enlisted into the war. Julia and her second husband, the affluent Anderson Brant, try to pull all their strings to ensure that George is appointed to the safety of a post in a staff office; yet in an act of rebellion, the young man enlists himself for the front lines. Wharton, instead of following the events on the warfront with this novel, leaves her readers in Paris as the devastating effects of those left waiting in wartime unfold. For those only familiar with Wharton’s best-known books, this is a surprising and moving War novel like no other. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of A Son at the Front is both modern and readable.

"Wharton has done nothing that equals this."-New York Times Book Review (1923)“Extraordinarily poignant…Heartrending, tragic, powerful, this is not to be missed.”-Publishers WeeklyEdith Wharton’s A Son at the Front (1923) is a stirring rumination of family, art, and the shortcomings of possession. The story, which is set on the eve of the First World War reflects the author’s own experience living in France when the “Great War” broke out. The delineation of Wartime Paris is one of great power and evocation, yet it is the immensely personal father-son relationship that is at the heart of this tragic novel. The novel begins in 1914, where John Compton is an American Artist living in Paris; he is successful in his art, yet ill-fated in personal relationships. His only son, George, who was born in France, is living in the United States with John’s ex-wife, Julia. Having recently reconnected with his son, and intent on rebuilding a meaningful relationship, George returns to Paris only to be enlisted into the war. Julia and her second husband, the affluent Anderson Brant, try to pull all their strings to ensure that George is appointed to the safety of a post in a staff office; yet in an act of rebellion, the young man enlists himself for the front lines. Wharton, instead of following the events on the warfront with this novel, leaves her readers in Paris as the devastating effects of those left waiting in wartime unfold. For those only familiar with Wharton’s best-known books, this is a surprising and moving War novel like no other. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of A Son at the Front is both modern and readable.

This book has been considered by academicians and scholars of great significance and value to literature. This book forms a part of the knowledge base for future generations. So that the book is never forgotten we have re-typed, re-formatted, and re-published the book in a very modern format. Hence every reader would get a new book but without losing its old charm and feel. We at Alpha Editions, work towards the restoration of old and rare books so that they are never forgotten and are always available for the future generations.

This book has been considered by academicians and scholars of great significance and value to literature. This book forms a part of the knowledge base for future generations. So that the book is never forgotten we have re-typed, re-formatted, and re-published the book in a very modern format. Hence every reader would get a new book but without losing its old charm and feel. We at Alpha Editions, work towards the restoration of old and rare books so that they are never forgotten and are always available for the future generations.