Hiroaki Sato translated "Basho's Narrow Road," "Right Under the Big Sky, I Don't Wear A Hat" and writes frequently on Japanese poetry.
|
Ephron's novel, written in the 1990s, depicts New York life in the early 20th century. Edith Wharton was writing at that time about the same kind of upper-crust characters.
|
Wharton and James were friends for the last 12 years of James's life, and Wharton was a passionate admirer of his works.
|
Born to a wealthy New York family, Edith Wharton, who eventually wrote over 50 works, spent much of her childhood in Europe developing an appreciation for the arts. In 1885 she married a wealthy banker, Edward Robbins Wharton, and turned to writing--books on decorating, then novels. In 1906, Wharton moved to Paris where she was engaged in a passionate affair with Morton Fullerton. In 1913 she divorced her husband. By this time, Wharton had achieved fame and began spending time among a society of more...
|
1862 New York, New York, Middle Atlantic States, Northeastern States, United States,
|
|
|
|
|
Reading this book is like watching a train wreck. The main character, Undine Spraggs, finds meaning by climbing the social ladder. She is willing to step on anyone in her way to get there, and destroys lives along her trek. Wharton's characters and writing are so compelling that you can't look away from the devastating trail in Undine's wake.