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The Edith Wharton Library

The Edith Wharton Library

Written by: Edith Wharton
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In The Edith Wharton Library, we open the drawing-room doors of another age and read the novels, tales, and travels in which society’s bright surfaces so often betray a darker design. Here are marriages arranged like treaties, fortunes that tremble at a whisper, and hearts that learn - too late - the cost of propriety.

Each episode offers a full-length chapter reading, patiently and plainly delivered, for listeners who prefer their drama civilized, their comedy edged, and their ghosts the sort that appear most often in daylight.Public domain Hourly
Episodes
  • Fighting France, from Dunkerque to Belfort Chapter 1 - The Look of Paris

    Fighting France, from Dunkerque to Belfort Chapter 1 - The Look of Paris
    Oct 13 2026
    In which the serene beauty of the French countryside and the solemn grandeur of Chartres Cathedral lend a tranquil backdrop to the stirring onset of national mobilisation in Paris, where the quiet dignity of its citizens subtly reveals the weighty acceptance of an upheaval that reshapes every aspect of life. The city, dressed in a somber yet steadfast mood, balances moments of public fervour with a pervasive calm, as its people—both native and refugee—adapt under martial law, their faces reflecting a collective resolve and the deepening imprint of war’s somber realities.
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    35 mins
  • Crucial Instances Chapter 7 - The Confessional, Part 1

    Crucial Instances Chapter 7 - The Confessional, Part 1
    Oct 12 2026
    In which a young man finds unexpected romance and complex loyalties within an Italian immigrant community, discovering a priest whose past and present intertwine with themes of allegiance, exile, and personal sacrifice. As he glimpses the quiet dignity of this parocco and the heavy shadows lingering over his benefactors, the narrative quietly reveals the poignancy of friendship and the silent struggles of those caught between worlds.
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    43 mins
  • Fighting France, from Dunkerque to Belfort Chapter 6 - The Tone of France

    Fighting France, from Dunkerque to Belfort Chapter 6 - The Tone of France
    Oct 15 2026
    In which the resilient spirit of France during the great war is gently examined, revealing a nation graced by intelligence, eloquence, and a reasoned courage that permeates both soldier and civilian alike. The enduring fortitude of the French people, born not of submission but of luminous resolve and sacrifice, shines forth as a profound testament to their national genius and unyielding hope.
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    19 mins
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