Edith Wharton - Inspirational Quotes and Short Biography
  • 10 months ago
Edith Wharton - Inspirational Quotes

Short Biography of Edith Wharton

Edith Wharton, born Edith Newbold Jones on January 24, 1862, in New York City, was an American novelist, short story writer, and designer. She is recognized as one of the foremost literary figures of the early 20th century and is best known for her novels exploring the lives of the wealthy elite and the social constraints of the time.

Wharton was born into a privileged and affluent family and received a private education. She developed a love for literature and writing from a young age, and her first published work was a poem that appeared in The Atlantic Monthly when she was just 16 years old.

In 1885, she married Edward Wharton, a wealthy Boston banker, and the couple settled in Newport, Rhode Island. It was during this time that Wharton began writing in earnest, drawing inspiration from her observations of the upper-class society in which she moved.

Wharton's breakthrough novel, "The House of Mirth," was published in 1905 and received critical acclaim. It depicted the harsh realities faced by women in high society and explored themes of social class, conformity, and the limited choices available to women of the time.

She went on to write numerous novels, including "Ethan Frome" (1911), "The Custom of the Country" (1913), and "The Age of Innocence" (1920), for which she became the first woman to be awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1921. Wharton's novels often explored the conflict between individual desires and societal expectations, providing a sharp critique of the restrictive social norms of the era.

In addition to her fiction writing, Edith Wharton was an avid traveler and wrote extensively on her experiences abroad. She also dedicated herself to philanthropic work during World War I, providing aid to war refugees.

Wharton continued writing and publishing until her death on August 11, 1937, in France, where she had lived for a significant portion of her later life. Her literary legacy remains significant, as her works continue to be celebrated for their vivid portrayal of the Gilded Age society, their insightful social commentary, and their masterful storytelling. Edith Wharton's contributions to American literature have secured her a lasting place among the most esteemed writers of her time.
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