During the month of May, I take a break from my regular reading schedule to fit in a Wharton or two.
In 1921, Edith Wharton was the third person & the first woman to be awarded the Pulitzer Prize for fiction with The Age of Innocence.
The Pulitzer is awarded for "distinguished fiction by an American author, preferably dealing with American life."
Many of Wharton's books fit this criteria. But she also spent a lot of time in Europe, particularly, in Paris during WWI, which meant that many of her books had a fascinating Continental flavour as well.
My plan this month is to reread Age of Innocence. I adored this book when I first read it about 15 years ago. I hope to rekindle the love affair (& watch the movie starring Daniel Day Lewis & Michelle Pfieffer again)!
Wharton's Goodreads author page can be viewed here if you need help getting started.
There is also a dedicated webpage called The Edith Wharton Society.
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There is no pressure or expectation with this month long review. Simply read, blog or comment on all things Wharton at your leisure.
Ooh, this sounds really good. I haven't read The Age of Innocence, but I really enjoyed the movie. I'm committed to a few other books this month, but surely I could squeeze in something short like Ethan Frome, maybe?
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you can squeeze in Ethan Frome - such an itty bitty book, wafer thin (weird channelling Monty Python moment there!)
DeleteWharton also has loads of short stories if you'd like to join in but have limited time :-)
Arghhh! I remember that I missed this one last year and I REALLY did not want to miss it again. I have my Beowulf Read-Along going in May, plus Corinne's Gone With the Wind read-along ....... aaaaah ...... okay, I think I'm in. I just finished doing my taxes, so I should have some extra reading time. I may not get it finished by the end of the month but at least I'll have participated and be able to add another Wharton book to my "read" list. Thanks for hosting again, Brona!!
ReplyDeleteI'm relying on the fact that Corinne has been very generous in her GWTW readalong time frame for me to fit it in with The Age of Innocence.
DeleteI hope you can find the time to join us - short stories are always welcome :-)
It's a busy month but I hope I can fit something in - I'm thinking maybe the novella Summer.
ReplyDeleteMake sure you check out Heavenali's lovely review of Summer when you finish.
DeleteI'm ready! Originally, I had planned to read Custom of the Country, but I think I'll go with Summer or The Reef (or both?) instead. Looking forward to this...
ReplyDeleteLovely to have you join us. Heavenali has just posted a lovely review about Summer which might convince you to read it sooner rather than later!
DeleteI recently read one of Wharton's lesser-know, later novels, A Mother's Recompense. It's the story of a forty-ish woman who returns to New York from Europe where she's been living since she abandoned her husband and young daughter years ago. She reunites with her now-grown daughter only to discover that she is planning to marry a man that her mother had an affair with. Sounds kind of melodramatic, but Wharton pulls it off with her usual depth and elegance.
ReplyDeleteThat's one I haven't read, although I think it's in the short story collection I picked up last year.
DeleteI read most of Wharton’s books nearly 20 yrs ago. Rereading them again now is almost like discovering them for the first time.
Her short stories are another matter entirely. Thanks for helping me decide which one to dip into next.
I am going to try and be a part of this! I may only get to read Ethan Frome which I've read before but maybe next year I can plan ahead and read other stuff!
ReplyDeleteOh, that one sounds fun. I might need to read Ethan Frome too. Not sure if I'll have time. I love Wharton, but I've never read Ethan Frome...
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