Showing results for "Wharton" in Arts & Entertainment

George Darrow, Anna Leath’s first love, is on his way from London to propose to her. However, his journey takes an unexpected turn when he finds himself entangled in an affair with Sophy Viner, the young and impressionable governess of Anna’s daughter. As Darrow navigates the complexities of his relationships, the stability of Anna’s family hangs in the balance, and his aspirations for success are put to the test. In this captivating novel, Edith Wharton explores the timeless love triangle with her signature wit and elegance, creating a cast of unforgettable characters and vivid scenes. ...

A BBC radio collection of full-cast dramatisations, bringing together Edith Wharton’s most popular and best-loved works.

When published in 1907, this novel about the lives of a wealthy mill owner, her socially progressive husband and friends caused a stir due to its treatment of drug abuse, mercy killing, divorce and second marriages. (Summary by Margaret)

"The Glimpses of the Moon" (1922) is about Nick and Susy Lansing, both of whom live a decadent life in Europe by sponging off wealthy friends. They marry out of convenience and have an "open" relationship, but are unprepared for where their feelings will take them. (Summary by Elizabeth Klett)

The House of Mirth (1905), by Edith Wharton, is a novel about New York socialite Lily Bart attempting to secure a husband and a place in rich society. It is one of the first novels of manners in American literature, and one of the first to openly explore how American Victorian society offered little social mobility for women. (Summary from Wikipedia).

Seven short stories by Edith Wharton, American author of The House of Mirth. "The Hermit and the Wild Woman" (rather different than Wharton's usual fare) is about a religious hermit who retires from the world after childhood trauma, and his relationship with a former nun whose "sinful" desire to bathe has driven her out of her cloister. The remaining six stories are set in high society, and explore the foibles and manipulations of the wealthy and influential (including artists and political figures). (Summary by Winnifred Assmann)

This is Edith Wharton's earliest published collection of short stories (1899). Like much of her later work, they touch on themes of marriage, male/female relationships, New York society, and the nature and purpose of art. One of the stories, "The Twilight of the God," is written as a short play. The role of Warland is read by mb, and the role of Oberville by Bruce Pirie. (Summary by Elizabeth Klett)

Five early short stories by Edith Wharton, American author of The House of Mirth. Includes “Kerfol,” “Mrs. Manstey's View,” “The Bolted Door,” “The Dilettante,” and “The House of the Dead Hand.”With one possible exception (“The Dilettante”), these early stories are dark tales about ghosts (canine and human), dark deeds of the past and present and how they haunt their perpetrators and victims, and narrators/central characters with a fierce determination to pursue their hearts’ desires at all costs.Even the one exception, which seems more like Wharton’s later tales of...

Edith Wharton's 1911 novel Ethan Frome tells the story of a tragic love triangle. Set in the highly symbolic wintry landscape of Starkfield, Massachusetts, the narrative centers on the title character's fraught relationships with his "sickly, cantankerous" wife Zeena and his young, beautiful cousin Mattie Silver. (Summary by Elizabeth Klett)

Edith Wharton's 1913 novel is a devastating critique of American upward mobility, told through the journey of Undine Spragg from fictional Midwestern Apex City to New York to Paris. Undine is determined to acquire money and position through marriage, even if it means multiple divorces. - Summary by Elizabeth Klett

The Decoration of Houses, a manual of interior design written by Edith Wharton with architect Ogden Codman, was first published in 1897. In the book, the authors denounced Victorian-style interior decoration and interior design, especially those rooms that were decorated with heavy window curtains, Victorian bric-a-brac and overstuffed furniture. They argued that such rooms emphasized upholstery at the expense of proper space planning and architectural design and were, therefore, uncomfortable and rarely used. Wharton and Codman advocated the creation of houses with rooms decorated with strong...

This is Edith Wharton's second published collection of short stories (1901). One of these seven stories, "Copy: A Dialogue," is written as a short play. The role of Hilda is read by Arielle Lipshaw, and the role of Ventnor by Mark F. Smith. (Summary by Elizabeth Klett)

“Bunner Sisters,” like “The Age of Innocence” is set in 1870s New York, however the lives of Ann Eliza and Evelina Bunner reflect impoverished New York. The sisters run a "very small shop, in a shabby basement, in a side street already doomed to decline." Shabby as it is, the sisters are happy in their small orderly community of supportive women. The story tells of the destruction of this life, and how the once content sisters are thrown into the realistic world outside of their little shop. (Summary by Margaret)

Mary and Ned Boyne have fled their dreary life in Wisconsin for a home in rustic Dorsetshire. But you can only run so far, and some things - some secret things - may follow you. A creepy and tragic ghost story from one of the masters. (Summary by John Silence)

This collection of ten stories, first published in 1904, shows Edith Wharton dissecting some of the customs, habits and vagaries of courtship and marriage, particularly as practiced in the upper reaches of New York society at the turn of the twentieth century (two stories, however, are set in Italy). Fidelity is only one problem; others may arise from the machinations and emotions of the protagonists or outsiders. Wharton handles the questions with her usual gentle (and sometimes not so gentle) irony and curiosity about human behavior. (Summary by Nicholas Clifford)

Dive into the poignant world of American author Edith Wharton, renowned for her incisive novels of manners set against the backdrop of old New York. Yet, her heart was deeply entwined with France, where she resided in Paris during World War I and passionately engaged in refugee efforts. Her 1918 novella, The Marne, vividly captures the harrowing events of the war through the eyes of 15-year-old Troy Belknap, an American boy yearning to enlist and defend the country he holds dear. (Summary by Elizabeth Klett)

In the wake of World War I, American novelist Edith Wharton found herself in Paris, compelled to bear witness to the realities of war. With permission to traverse the front lines, she journeyed through devastated villages, bustling hospitals, and the trenches themselves. Fighting France chronicles her poignant travels between 1914 and 1915, capturing not only the harrowing experiences of the time but also the unwavering spirit of the French people. (Summary by Elizabeth Klett)

The Age of Innocence follows an upper-class couple on the brink of marriage, whose happiness is jeopardized by the arrival of a woman entangled in scandal. Edith Whartons novel deftly explores the morals and expectations of 1870s New York society, providing a nuanced portrayal that avoids outright condemnation of its social structures. Wharton regarded this work as an apology for her earlier, more critical novel, The House of Mirth. Rich in detail, she illuminates the charms and customs of the upper class, earning her the first Pulitzer Prize awarded to a woman. At age 58, Wharton had lived ...

The Edith Wharton Works Collection presents her complete novels and short stories, providing an immersive experience of her thought-provoking narratives.

The Edith Wharton Classics Podcast presents a beautifully narrated collection of her most celebrated works, capturing the essence of ambition, morality, and the pursuit of happiness.