ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Edith Wharton
There is an adage for writers which says, "Write what you know." This means that the best material for a writer is rooted in the writer's own experience. The depth and richness of Edith Wharton's writing is derived from her own life. Wharton was born in 1862 to a highly privileged family in New York City. Originally born Edith Jones, her surname is thought to be the one referred to in the idiom, "keeping up with the Joneses." Her family was socially well connected and young Edith grew up among the social elite in New York, the epicenter of culture, arts, fashion, and style. Wharton developed a propensity for the arts--both written and visual--from an early age. An avid storyteller and illustrator, Wharton showed creativity as a child and young adult. Interior decorating was a favorite creative outlet for Wharton, as it gave her a means of artistic self-expression that was socially acceptable for a woman.

Wharton's highly privileged lifestyle afforded her with opportunities to travel abroad, which gave her a great deal of creative inspiration. Though she built an expansive estate in New England, Wharton maintained a residence in France. Wharton frequently entertained guests and invited friends who were among the greatest authors and artists of the day to her homes. Most notable of these friends was Henry James, an American novelist whose works explore themes similar to those in Wharton's writing.

While living in France during World War I, Wharton became involved in support efforts for the allied side. Wharton did not return to America to live after the war. During this period Wharton wrote some of her most celebrated works including The Age of Innocence. This novel and others such as The House of Mirth and The Buccaneers explore the issues faced by upper-class women at the turn of the 20th century. Marked by wit and irony, Wharton's works insightfully challenge the societal expectations for women. Wharton's novel The Age of Innocence was awarded a Pulitzer Prize in 1921; this is especially notable, as Wharton was the first woman to receive this distinction.

Wharton died of a stroke in France in 1937, her lifetime spanning great change in American culture and society.

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