Summer (Penguin Twentieth Century Classics)

re-reading

Once Wharton created Lily Bart for The House of Mirth, she returned to that archetype several more times, including Charity Royall in Summer. Stepping outside of her usual milieu of Old New York, she writes instead a riff on Thomas Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbervilles -- with less maybe-raping and dying game hens. Edith Wharton's writing in 1916 isn't as elegant; or, maybe,...more

Once Wharton created Lily Bart for The House of Mirth, she returned to that archetype several more times, including Charity Royall in Summer. Stepping outside of her usual milieu of Old New York, she writes instead a riff on Thomas Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbervilles -- with less maybe-raping and dying game hens. Edith Wharton's writing in 1916 isn't as elegant; or, maybe, it's because she's set this novel in the rural Massachusetts Berkshires. However, the plight of Charity Royall remains gripping, and Wharton's frank look at sexuality and its consequences makes up for any textual shortcomings.   hide

better than 'ethan,' but still depressing. made me hate trailer trash.

I read this while scanning documents at work. This is definitely one of her better stories and captures that grim realistic nature of hers. I think Charity Royall is a fantastically conceived character, passionate, proud, and yet in the end somewhat tamed by reality.. It's just good. <3 Wharton