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کمال زندگی
نه داستان کوتاه از هفت نویسنده دنیا
لینک دانلود
https://archive.org/details/ShortStor...
https://www.scribd.com/document/34615...
لینک دانلود
https://archive.org/details/ShortStor...
https://www.scribd.com/document/34615...
14 pages, ebook
First published December 1, 1893
1 person is currently reading
106 people want to read
About the author
Edith Wharton
1,434 books5,256 followersEdith Wharton emerged as one of America’s most insightful novelists, deftly exposing the tensions between societal expectation and personal desire through her vivid portrayals of upper-class life. Drawing from her deep familiarity with New York’s privileged “aristocracy,” she offered readers a keenly observed and piercingly honest vision of Gilded Age society.
Her work reached a milestone when she became the first woman to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, awarded for The Age of Innocence. This novel highlights the constraining rituals of 1870s New York society and remains a defining portrait of elegance laced with regret.
Wharton’s literary achievements span a wide canvas. The House of Mirth presents a tragic, vividly drawn character study of Lily Bart, navigating social expectations and the perils of genteel poverty in 1890s New York. In Ethan Frome, she explores rural hardship and emotional repression, contrasting sharply with her urban social dramas.
Her novella collection Old New York revisits the moral terrain of upper-class society, spanning decades and combining character studies with social commentary. Through these stories, she inevitably points back to themes and settings familiar from The Age of Innocence. Continuing her exploration of class and desire, The Glimpses of the Moon addresses marriage and social mobility in early 20th-century America. And in Summer, Wharton challenges societal norms with its rural setting and themes of sexual awakening and social inequality.
Beyond fiction, Wharton contributed compelling nonfiction and travel writing. The Decoration of Houses reflects her eye for design and architecture; Fighting France: From Dunkerque to Belfort presents a compelling account of her wartime observations. As editor of The Book of the Homeless, she curated a moving, international collaboration in support of war refugees.
Wharton’s influence extended beyond writing. She designed her own country estate, The Mount, a testament to her architectural sensibility and aesthetic vision. The Mount now stands as an educational museum celebrating her legacy.
Throughout her career, Wharton maintained friendships and artistic exchanges with luminaries such as Henry James, Sinclair Lewis, Jean Cocteau, André Gide, and Theodore Roosevelt—reflecting her status as a respected and connected cultural figure.
Her literary legacy also includes multiple Nobel Prize nominations, underscoring her international recognition. She was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature more than once.
In sum, Edith Wharton remains celebrated for her unflinching, elegant prose, her psychological acuity, and her capacity to illuminate the unspoken constraints of society—from the glittering ballrooms of New York to quieter, more remote settings. Her wide-ranging work—novels, novellas, short stories, poetry, travel writing, essays—offers cultural insight, enduring emotional depth, and a piercing critique of the customs she both inhabited and dissected.
Her work reached a milestone when she became the first woman to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, awarded for The Age of Innocence. This novel highlights the constraining rituals of 1870s New York society and remains a defining portrait of elegance laced with regret.
Wharton’s literary achievements span a wide canvas. The House of Mirth presents a tragic, vividly drawn character study of Lily Bart, navigating social expectations and the perils of genteel poverty in 1890s New York. In Ethan Frome, she explores rural hardship and emotional repression, contrasting sharply with her urban social dramas.
Her novella collection Old New York revisits the moral terrain of upper-class society, spanning decades and combining character studies with social commentary. Through these stories, she inevitably points back to themes and settings familiar from The Age of Innocence. Continuing her exploration of class and desire, The Glimpses of the Moon addresses marriage and social mobility in early 20th-century America. And in Summer, Wharton challenges societal norms with its rural setting and themes of sexual awakening and social inequality.
Beyond fiction, Wharton contributed compelling nonfiction and travel writing. The Decoration of Houses reflects her eye for design and architecture; Fighting France: From Dunkerque to Belfort presents a compelling account of her wartime observations. As editor of The Book of the Homeless, she curated a moving, international collaboration in support of war refugees.
Wharton’s influence extended beyond writing. She designed her own country estate, The Mount, a testament to her architectural sensibility and aesthetic vision. The Mount now stands as an educational museum celebrating her legacy.
Throughout her career, Wharton maintained friendships and artistic exchanges with luminaries such as Henry James, Sinclair Lewis, Jean Cocteau, André Gide, and Theodore Roosevelt—reflecting her status as a respected and connected cultural figure.
Her literary legacy also includes multiple Nobel Prize nominations, underscoring her international recognition. She was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature more than once.
In sum, Edith Wharton remains celebrated for her unflinching, elegant prose, her psychological acuity, and her capacity to illuminate the unspoken constraints of society—from the glittering ballrooms of New York to quieter, more remote settings. Her wide-ranging work—novels, novellas, short stories, poetry, travel writing, essays—offers cultural insight, enduring emotional depth, and a piercing critique of the customs she both inhabited and dissected.
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November 12, 2014
داستانی از مهر بی پایان یک زن
April 21, 2020
« ﺷﺎﯾﺪ ﺗﺎﺯﻩ ﺩﺍﺭﻡ ﻣﻔﻬﻮﻡ ﺯﻧﺪﮔﯽ ﺭﺍ ﻣﯽ ﻓﻬﻤﻢ . »
ﻫﻤﺎﻥ ﻃﻮﺭ ﮐﻪ ﺑﺎ ﺧﻮﺩ ﺯﻣﺰﻣﻪ ﻣﯽ ﮐﺮﺩ ﺍﺣﺴﺎﺱ ﮐﺮﺩ ﻗﻠﺒﺶ ﺑﻪ ﺿﺮﺑﺎﻥ
ﺍﻓﺘﺎﺩ، ﺳﺮﺵ ﺭﺍ ﮐﻪ ﺑﺎﻻ ﮐﺮﺩ ﺭﻭﺡ ﺯﻧﺪﮔﯽ ﺭﺍ ﭘﯿﺶ ﺭﻭﯼ ﺧﻮﺩ ﺩﯾﺪ .
ﺭﻭﺡ ﺯﻧﺪﮔﯽ ﺍﺯ ﺍﻭ ﭘﺮﺳﯿﺪ : « ﯾﻌﻨﯽ ﺗﺎ ﮐﻨﻮﻥ ﻧﻤﯽ ﺩﺍﻧﺴﺘﯽ ﺯﻧﺪﮔﯽ
ﮐﺮﺩﻥ ﺑﻪ ﭼﻪ ﻣﻌﻨﺎﺳﺖ؟ »
« ﺑﺎ ﺍﯾﻨﮑﻪ ﻋﻤﺮ ﻣﻦ ﺧﺎﻟﯽ ﺍﺯ ﻣﻔﻬﻮﻡ ﺣﯿﺎﺕ ﻧﺒﻮﺩ ﻭ ﻫﺮ ﺍﺯ ﮔﺎﻫﯽ ﺭﺍﯾﺤﻪ
ﯼ ﺳﺎﺣﻞ ﺯﻧﺪﮔﯽ ﺍﺯ ﺁﻥ ﺳﻮﯼ ﺩﺭﯾﺎﯼ ﻣﺸﮑﻼﺕ ﺑﻪ ﻣﺸﺎﻣﻢ ﻣﯽ ﺭﺳﯿﺪ،
ﺍﻣﺎ ﻫﺮﮔﺰ ﮐﻤﺎﻝ ﺯﻧﺪﮔﯽ ﺭﺍ ﺁﻥ ﮔﻮﻧﻪ ﮐﻪ ﻓﮑﺮ ﻣﯽ ﮐﻨﯿﻢ ﻗﺎﺩﺭ ﺑﻪ ﺩﺭﮎ
ﺁﻧﯿﻢ، ﻧﻔﻬﻤﯿﺪﻡ . »
« ﺑﻪ ﻧﻈﺮ ﺗﻮ ﮐﻤﺎﻝ ﺯﻧﺪﮔﯽ ﭼﯿﺴﺖ؟ »
« ﺁﻩ ﺍﮔﺮ ﻧﻤﯽ ﺩﺍﻧﯽ ﻧﻤﯽ ﺗﻮﺍﻧﻢ ﺑﻪ ﺗﻮ ﺑﮕﻮﯾﻢ »
ﺑﻌﺪ ﺑﺎ ﻟﺤﻨﯽ ﻣﻼﻣﺖ ﮔﺮ ﺍﺩﺍﻣﻪ ﺩﺍﺩ : « ﻣﯽ ﺗﻮﺍﻥ ﺑﺎ ﺑﺴﯿﺎﺭﯼ ﺍﺯ ﮐﻠﻤﺎﺕ
ﺁﻥ ﺭﺍ ﺗﻮﺻﯿﻒ ﮐﺮﺩ ... ﻋﺸﻖ ﻭ ﻫﻤﺪﺭﺩﯼ ﺭﺍﯾﺞ ﺗﺮﯾﻦ ﺁﻥ ﻫﺎ ﺍﺳﺖ . ﺍﻣﺎ
ﮐﺎﻣﻼً ﻣﻄﻤﺌﻦ ﻧﯿﺴﺘﻢ ﮐﻪ ﺣﺘﯽ ﺍﯾﻦ ﮐﻠﻤﺎﺕ ﻫﻢ ﺗﻌﺮﯾﻒ ﺩﺭﺳﺘﯽ ﺑﺎﺷﻨﺪ .
ﻋﺪﻩ ﯼ ﮐﻤﯽ ﺍﺯ ﻣﺮﺩﻡ ﻣﻌﻨﺎﯼ ﻋﺸﻖ ﻭ ﻫﻤﺪﺭﺩﯼ ﺭﺍ ﻣﯽ ﺩﺍﻧﻨﺪ . »
« ﺗﻮ ﺍﺯﺩﻭﺍﺝ ﮐﺮﺩﻩ ﺑﻮﺩﯼ . ﺑﺎ ﺍﯾﻦ ﺣﺎﻝ ﻧﺘﻮﺍﻧﺴﺘﯽ ﮐﻤﺎﻝ ﺯﻧﺪﮔﯽ ﺭﺍ ﺩﺭ
ﺯﻧﺪﮔﯽ ﻣﺸﺘﺮﮎ ﺑﯿﺎﺑﯽ؟ »
ﺍﻭ ﺑﺎ ﺗﻤﺴﺨﺮ ﭘﺎﺳﺦ ﺩﺍﺩ : « ﺍﻭﻩ، ﻧﻪ ﻋﺰﯾﺰﻡ . ﺍﺯﺩﻭﺍﺝ ﻣﻦ ﻣﺸﮑﻼﺕ ﺯﯾﺎﺩﯼ
ﺩﺍﺷﺖ . »
« ﺑﺎ ﺍﯾﻦ ﻭﺟﻮﺩ ﺗﻮ ﺷﯿﻔﺘﻪ ﯼ ﺷﻮﻫﺮﺕ ﺑﻮﺩﯼ؟ »
« ﺑﻪ ﻧﮑﺘﻪ ﯼ ﻣﻬﻤﯽ ﺍﺷﺎﺭﻩ ﮐﺮﺩﯼ . ﺑﻠﻪ، ﻣﻦ ﺷﯿﻔﺘﻪ ﯼ ﺍﻭ ﺑﻮﺩﻡ .
ﻫﻤﺎﻧﻄﻮﺭ ﮐﻪ ﺷﯿﻔﺘﻪ ﯼ ﻣﺎﺩﺭﺑﺰﺭﮔﻢ ﻭ ﺧﺎﻧﻪ ﺍﯼ ﮐﻪ ﺩﺭ ﺁﻥ ﺑﻪ ﺩﻧﯿﺎ ﺁﻣﺪﻡ
ﻭ ﭘﺮﺳﺘﺎﺭ ﺑﭽﮕﯽ ﺍﻡ ﺑﻮﺩﻡ . ﺍﻭﻩ، ﻣﻦ ﺷﯿﻔﺘﻪ ﯼ ﺍﻭ ﺑﻮﺩﻡ ﻭ ﻫﻤﻪ، ﻣﺎ ﺭﺍ
ﺯﻭﺝ ﺧﻮﺷﺒﺨﺘﯽ ﻣﯽ ﺩﺍﻧﺴﺘﻨﺪ . ﺍﻣﺎ ﻣﻦ ﻣﻌﺘﻘﺪ ﺑﻮﺩﻡ ﻃﺒﯿﻌﺖ ﺯﻥ ﻣﺎﻧﻨﺪ
ﺧﺎﻧﻪ ﯼ ﺑﺰﺭﮔﯽ ﺍﺳﺖ ﮐﻪ ﺍﺗﺎﻕ ﻫﺎﯼ ﺯﯾﺎﺩﯼ ﺩﺍﺭﺩ ﻭ ﺭﺍﻫﺮﻭﯾﯽ ﮐﻪ ﻫﻤﻪ
ﺍﺯ ﺁﻥ ﺩﺍﺧﻞ ﻭ ﺧﺎﺭﺝ ﻣﯽ ﺷﻮﻧﺪ، ﺍﺗﺎﻕ ﭘﺬﯾﺮﺍﯾﯽ ﮐﻪ ﺍﺯ ﻣﯿﻬﻤﺎﻧﺎﻥ ﺭﺳﻤﯽ
ﺩﺭ ﺁﻥ ﭘﺬﯾﺮﺍﯾﯽ ﻣﯽ ﺷﻮﺩ ﻭ ﺍﺗﺎﻕ ﻧﺸﯿﻤﻦ ﮐﻪ ﺍﻋﻀﺎﯼ ﺧﺎﻧﻮﺍﺩﻩ
ﺩﺭ ﺁﻥ ﻧﺸﺴﺖ ﻭ ﺑﺮﺧﺎﺳﺖ ﺩﺍﺭﻧﺪ . ﺍﻣﺎ ﺩﺭ ﻭﺭﺍﯼ ﺍﯾﻦ ﺍﺗﺎﻕ ﻫﺎ، ﺍﺗﺎﻕ ﻫﺎﯼ
ﺩﯾﮕﺮﯼ ﻫﻢ ﻫﺴﺖ ﮐﻪ ﺷﺎﯾﺪ ﻫﺮﮔﺰ ﺩﺳﺘﮕﯿﺮﻩ ﺩﺭ ﺁﻥ ﻫﺎ ﭼﺮﺧﺎﻧﺪﻩ ﻧﺸﻮﺩ .
ﻫﯿﭻ ﮐﺲ ﺭﺍﻩ ﻭﺭﻭﺩ ﺑﻪ ﺁﻥ ﻫﺎ ﺭﺍ ﻧﻤﯽ ﺩﺍﻧﺪ ﻭ ﻧﻤﯽ ﺩﺍﻧﺪ ﮐﻪ ﺍﺯ ﺁﻥ ﺟﺎ
ﺑﻪ ﮐﺠﺎ ﺧﻮﺍﻫﺪ ﺭﺳﯿﺪ . ﺩﺭ ﯾﮑﯽ ﺍﺯ ﺍﯾﻦ ﺍﺗﺎﻕ ﻫﺎ ﮐﻪ ﺩﺍﺧﻠﯽ ﺗﺮﯾﻦ ﺟﺎﯼ
ﺧﺎﻧﻪ ﺍﺳﺖ، ﺭﻭﺣﯽ ﭘﺎﮎ ﺗﻨﻬﺎ ﻧﺸﺴﺘﻪ ﻭ ﻭ ﻣﻨﺘﻈﺮ ﺷﻨﯿﺪﻥ ﭘﺎﯾﯽ ﺍﺳﺖ ﮐﻪ
ﻫﺮﮔﺰ ﻧﻤﯽ ﺁﯾﺪ . »
ﺭﻭﺡ ﺯﻧﺪﮔﯽ ﭘﺲ ﺍﺯ ﻣﮑﺜﯽ ﭘﺮﺳﯿﺪ : « ﻭ ﺷﻮﻫﺮﺕ، ﺁﯾﺎ ﺍﻭ ﻫﺮﮔﺰ ﭘﺎ ﺭﺍ
ﻓﺮﺍﺗﺮ ﺍﺯ ﺍﺗﺎﻕ ﻧﺸﯿﻤﻦ ﻧﮕﺬﺍﺷﺖ؟ »
ﺍﻭ ﺑﻼﻓﺎﺻﻠﻪ ﭘﺎﺳﺦ ﺩﺍﺩ : « ﻫﺮﮔﺰ،ﻭ ﺑﺪﺗﺮ ﺍﺯ ﺁﻥ ﺍﯾﻦ ﮐﻪ ﮐﺎﻣﻼً ﺍﺯ ﺟﺎﯾﯽ
ﮐﻪ ﺑﻮﺩ ﺭﺍﺿﯽ ﺑﻪ ﻧﻈﺮ ﻣﯽ ﺭﺳﯿﺪ . ﻓﮑﺮ ﻣﯽ ﮐﺮﺩ ﺁﻥ ﺍﺗﺎﻕ ﺑﺴﯿﺎﺭ
ﺯﯾﺒﺎﺳﺖ . ﮔﺎﻫﯽ ﮐﻪ ﺍﺛﺎﺛﯿﻪ ﯼ ﺁﻥ ﺭﺍ ﻣﺎﻧﻨﺪ ﺍﺛﺎﺛﯿﻪ ﯼ ﻫﺘﻠﯽ ﻣﺠﻠﻞ ﺗﺤﺴﯿﻦ
ﻣﯽ ﮐﺮﺩ، ﺩﻟﻢ ﻣﯽ ﺧﻮﺍﺳﺖ ﮔﺮﯾﻪ ﮐﻨﻢ . ﺩﻟﻢ ﻣﯽ ﺧﻮﺍﺳﺖ ﻓﺮﯾﺎﺩ ﺑﮑﺸﻢ
ﮐﻪ ﺍﯼ ﺍﺣﻤﻖ، ﯾﻌﻨﯽ ﻫﺮﮔﺰ ﻧﻤﯽ ﺗﻮﺍﻧﯽ ﺣﺪﺱ ﺑﺰﻧﯽ ﮐﻪ ﺍﺗﺎﻗﯽ ﻫﻢ ﺩﺭ
ﺁﻥ ﻧﺰﺩﯾﮑﯽ ﻫﺴﺖ ﮐﻪ ﭘﺮ ﺍﺳﺖ ﺍﺯ ﺟﻮﺍﻫﺮ ﻭ ﺷﮕﻔﺘﯽ؟ ﺁﻥ ﭼﻨﺎﻥ ﮐﻪ
ﻫﯿﭻ ﻣﺮﺩﯼ ﺁﻥ ﺭﺍ ﻧﺪﯾﺪﻩ ﺍﺳﺖ ﺍﻣﺎ ﻣﯽ ﺗﻮﺍﻧﺪ ﻣﺎﻝ ﺗﻮ ﺑﺎﺷﺪ ﺗﺎ ﺩﺭ ﺁﻥ
ﺯﻧﺪﮔﯽ ﮐﻨﯽ ﺍﻣﺎ ﺁﯾﺎ ﻣﯽ ﺗﻮﺍﻧﯽ ﺩﺳﺘﮕﯿﺮﻩ ﯼ ﺩﺭ ﺁﻥ ﺭﺍ ﺑﯿﺎﺑﯽ؟ »
ﻫﻤﺎﻥ ﻃﻮﺭ ﮐﻪ ﺑﺎ ﺧﻮﺩ ﺯﻣﺰﻣﻪ ﻣﯽ ﮐﺮﺩ ﺍﺣﺴﺎﺱ ﮐﺮﺩ ﻗﻠﺒﺶ ﺑﻪ ﺿﺮﺑﺎﻥ
ﺍﻓﺘﺎﺩ، ﺳﺮﺵ ﺭﺍ ﮐﻪ ﺑﺎﻻ ﮐﺮﺩ ﺭﻭﺡ ﺯﻧﺪﮔﯽ ﺭﺍ ﭘﯿﺶ ﺭﻭﯼ ﺧﻮﺩ ﺩﯾﺪ .
ﺭﻭﺡ ﺯﻧﺪﮔﯽ ﺍﺯ ﺍﻭ ﭘﺮﺳﯿﺪ : « ﯾﻌﻨﯽ ﺗﺎ ﮐﻨﻮﻥ ﻧﻤﯽ ﺩﺍﻧﺴﺘﯽ ﺯﻧﺪﮔﯽ
ﮐﺮﺩﻥ ﺑﻪ ﭼﻪ ﻣﻌﻨﺎﺳﺖ؟ »
« ﺑﺎ ﺍﯾﻨﮑﻪ ﻋﻤﺮ ﻣﻦ ﺧﺎﻟﯽ ﺍﺯ ﻣﻔﻬﻮﻡ ﺣﯿﺎﺕ ﻧﺒﻮﺩ ﻭ ﻫﺮ ﺍﺯ ﮔﺎﻫﯽ ﺭﺍﯾﺤﻪ
ﯼ ﺳﺎﺣﻞ ﺯﻧﺪﮔﯽ ﺍﺯ ﺁﻥ ﺳﻮﯼ ﺩﺭﯾﺎﯼ ﻣﺸﮑﻼﺕ ﺑﻪ ﻣﺸﺎﻣﻢ ﻣﯽ ﺭﺳﯿﺪ،
ﺍﻣﺎ ﻫﺮﮔﺰ ﮐﻤﺎﻝ ﺯﻧﺪﮔﯽ ﺭﺍ ﺁﻥ ﮔﻮﻧﻪ ﮐﻪ ﻓﮑﺮ ﻣﯽ ﮐﻨﯿﻢ ﻗﺎﺩﺭ ﺑﻪ ﺩﺭﮎ
ﺁﻧﯿﻢ، ﻧﻔﻬﻤﯿﺪﻡ . »
« ﺑﻪ ﻧﻈﺮ ﺗﻮ ﮐﻤﺎﻝ ﺯﻧﺪﮔﯽ ﭼﯿﺴﺖ؟ »
« ﺁﻩ ﺍﮔﺮ ﻧﻤﯽ ﺩﺍﻧﯽ ﻧﻤﯽ ﺗﻮﺍﻧﻢ ﺑﻪ ﺗﻮ ﺑﮕﻮﯾﻢ »
ﺑﻌﺪ ﺑﺎ ﻟﺤﻨﯽ ﻣﻼﻣﺖ ﮔﺮ ﺍﺩﺍﻣﻪ ﺩﺍﺩ : « ﻣﯽ ﺗﻮﺍﻥ ﺑﺎ ﺑﺴﯿﺎﺭﯼ ﺍﺯ ﮐﻠﻤﺎﺕ
ﺁﻥ ﺭﺍ ﺗﻮﺻﯿﻒ ﮐﺮﺩ ... ﻋﺸﻖ ﻭ ﻫﻤﺪﺭﺩﯼ ﺭﺍﯾﺞ ﺗﺮﯾﻦ ﺁﻥ ﻫﺎ ﺍﺳﺖ . ﺍﻣﺎ
ﮐﺎﻣﻼً ﻣﻄﻤﺌﻦ ﻧﯿﺴﺘﻢ ﮐﻪ ﺣﺘﯽ ﺍﯾﻦ ﮐﻠﻤﺎﺕ ﻫﻢ ﺗﻌﺮﯾﻒ ﺩﺭﺳﺘﯽ ﺑﺎﺷﻨﺪ .
ﻋﺪﻩ ﯼ ﮐﻤﯽ ﺍﺯ ﻣﺮﺩﻡ ﻣﻌﻨﺎﯼ ﻋﺸﻖ ﻭ ﻫﻤﺪﺭﺩﯼ ﺭﺍ ﻣﯽ ﺩﺍﻧﻨﺪ . »
« ﺗﻮ ﺍﺯﺩﻭﺍﺝ ﮐﺮﺩﻩ ﺑﻮﺩﯼ . ﺑﺎ ﺍﯾﻦ ﺣﺎﻝ ﻧﺘﻮﺍﻧﺴﺘﯽ ﮐﻤﺎﻝ ﺯﻧﺪﮔﯽ ﺭﺍ ﺩﺭ
ﺯﻧﺪﮔﯽ ﻣﺸﺘﺮﮎ ﺑﯿﺎﺑﯽ؟ »
ﺍﻭ ﺑﺎ ﺗﻤﺴﺨﺮ ﭘﺎﺳﺦ ﺩﺍﺩ : « ﺍﻭﻩ، ﻧﻪ ﻋﺰﯾﺰﻡ . ﺍﺯﺩﻭﺍﺝ ﻣﻦ ﻣﺸﮑﻼﺕ ﺯﯾﺎﺩﯼ
ﺩﺍﺷﺖ . »
« ﺑﺎ ﺍﯾﻦ ﻭﺟﻮﺩ ﺗﻮ ﺷﯿﻔﺘﻪ ﯼ ﺷﻮﻫﺮﺕ ﺑﻮﺩﯼ؟ »
« ﺑﻪ ﻧﮑﺘﻪ ﯼ ﻣﻬﻤﯽ ﺍﺷﺎﺭﻩ ﮐﺮﺩﯼ . ﺑﻠﻪ، ﻣﻦ ﺷﯿﻔﺘﻪ ﯼ ﺍﻭ ﺑﻮﺩﻡ .
ﻫﻤﺎﻧﻄﻮﺭ ﮐﻪ ﺷﯿﻔﺘﻪ ﯼ ﻣﺎﺩﺭﺑﺰﺭﮔﻢ ﻭ ﺧﺎﻧﻪ ﺍﯼ ﮐﻪ ﺩﺭ ﺁﻥ ﺑﻪ ﺩﻧﯿﺎ ﺁﻣﺪﻡ
ﻭ ﭘﺮﺳﺘﺎﺭ ﺑﭽﮕﯽ ﺍﻡ ﺑﻮﺩﻡ . ﺍﻭﻩ، ﻣﻦ ﺷﯿﻔﺘﻪ ﯼ ﺍﻭ ﺑﻮﺩﻡ ﻭ ﻫﻤﻪ، ﻣﺎ ﺭﺍ
ﺯﻭﺝ ﺧﻮﺷﺒﺨﺘﯽ ﻣﯽ ﺩﺍﻧﺴﺘﻨﺪ . ﺍﻣﺎ ﻣﻦ ﻣﻌﺘﻘﺪ ﺑﻮﺩﻡ ﻃﺒﯿﻌﺖ ﺯﻥ ﻣﺎﻧﻨﺪ
ﺧﺎﻧﻪ ﯼ ﺑﺰﺭﮔﯽ ﺍﺳﺖ ﮐﻪ ﺍﺗﺎﻕ ﻫﺎﯼ ﺯﯾﺎﺩﯼ ﺩﺍﺭﺩ ﻭ ﺭﺍﻫﺮﻭﯾﯽ ﮐﻪ ﻫﻤﻪ
ﺍﺯ ﺁﻥ ﺩﺍﺧﻞ ﻭ ﺧﺎﺭﺝ ﻣﯽ ﺷﻮﻧﺪ، ﺍﺗﺎﻕ ﭘﺬﯾﺮﺍﯾﯽ ﮐﻪ ﺍﺯ ﻣﯿﻬﻤﺎﻧﺎﻥ ﺭﺳﻤﯽ
ﺩﺭ ﺁﻥ ﭘﺬﯾﺮﺍﯾﯽ ﻣﯽ ﺷﻮﺩ ﻭ ﺍﺗﺎﻕ ﻧﺸﯿﻤﻦ ﮐﻪ ﺍﻋﻀﺎﯼ ﺧﺎﻧﻮﺍﺩﻩ
ﺩﺭ ﺁﻥ ﻧﺸﺴﺖ ﻭ ﺑﺮﺧﺎﺳﺖ ﺩﺍﺭﻧﺪ . ﺍﻣﺎ ﺩﺭ ﻭﺭﺍﯼ ﺍﯾﻦ ﺍﺗﺎﻕ ﻫﺎ، ﺍﺗﺎﻕ ﻫﺎﯼ
ﺩﯾﮕﺮﯼ ﻫﻢ ﻫﺴﺖ ﮐﻪ ﺷﺎﯾﺪ ﻫﺮﮔﺰ ﺩﺳﺘﮕﯿﺮﻩ ﺩﺭ ﺁﻥ ﻫﺎ ﭼﺮﺧﺎﻧﺪﻩ ﻧﺸﻮﺩ .
ﻫﯿﭻ ﮐﺲ ﺭﺍﻩ ﻭﺭﻭﺩ ﺑﻪ ﺁﻥ ﻫﺎ ﺭﺍ ﻧﻤﯽ ﺩﺍﻧﺪ ﻭ ﻧﻤﯽ ﺩﺍﻧﺪ ﮐﻪ ﺍﺯ ﺁﻥ ﺟﺎ
ﺑﻪ ﮐﺠﺎ ﺧﻮﺍﻫﺪ ﺭﺳﯿﺪ . ﺩﺭ ﯾﮑﯽ ﺍﺯ ﺍﯾﻦ ﺍﺗﺎﻕ ﻫﺎ ﮐﻪ ﺩﺍﺧﻠﯽ ﺗﺮﯾﻦ ﺟﺎﯼ
ﺧﺎﻧﻪ ﺍﺳﺖ، ﺭﻭﺣﯽ ﭘﺎﮎ ﺗﻨﻬﺎ ﻧﺸﺴﺘﻪ ﻭ ﻭ ﻣﻨﺘﻈﺮ ﺷﻨﯿﺪﻥ ﭘﺎﯾﯽ ﺍﺳﺖ ﮐﻪ
ﻫﺮﮔﺰ ﻧﻤﯽ ﺁﯾﺪ . »
ﺭﻭﺡ ﺯﻧﺪﮔﯽ ﭘﺲ ﺍﺯ ﻣﮑﺜﯽ ﭘﺮﺳﯿﺪ : « ﻭ ﺷﻮﻫﺮﺕ، ﺁﯾﺎ ﺍﻭ ﻫﺮﮔﺰ ﭘﺎ ﺭﺍ
ﻓﺮﺍﺗﺮ ﺍﺯ ﺍﺗﺎﻕ ﻧﺸﯿﻤﻦ ﻧﮕﺬﺍﺷﺖ؟ »
ﺍﻭ ﺑﻼﻓﺎﺻﻠﻪ ﭘﺎﺳﺦ ﺩﺍﺩ : « ﻫﺮﮔﺰ،ﻭ ﺑﺪﺗﺮ ﺍﺯ ﺁﻥ ﺍﯾﻦ ﮐﻪ ﮐﺎﻣﻼً ﺍﺯ ﺟﺎﯾﯽ
ﮐﻪ ﺑﻮﺩ ﺭﺍﺿﯽ ﺑﻪ ﻧﻈﺮ ﻣﯽ ﺭﺳﯿﺪ . ﻓﮑﺮ ﻣﯽ ﮐﺮﺩ ﺁﻥ ﺍﺗﺎﻕ ﺑﺴﯿﺎﺭ
ﺯﯾﺒﺎﺳﺖ . ﮔﺎﻫﯽ ﮐﻪ ﺍﺛﺎﺛﯿﻪ ﯼ ﺁﻥ ﺭﺍ ﻣﺎﻧﻨﺪ ﺍﺛﺎﺛﯿﻪ ﯼ ﻫﺘﻠﯽ ﻣﺠﻠﻞ ﺗﺤﺴﯿﻦ
ﻣﯽ ﮐﺮﺩ، ﺩﻟﻢ ﻣﯽ ﺧﻮﺍﺳﺖ ﮔﺮﯾﻪ ﮐﻨﻢ . ﺩﻟﻢ ﻣﯽ ﺧﻮﺍﺳﺖ ﻓﺮﯾﺎﺩ ﺑﮑﺸﻢ
ﮐﻪ ﺍﯼ ﺍﺣﻤﻖ، ﯾﻌﻨﯽ ﻫﺮﮔﺰ ﻧﻤﯽ ﺗﻮﺍﻧﯽ ﺣﺪﺱ ﺑﺰﻧﯽ ﮐﻪ ﺍﺗﺎﻗﯽ ﻫﻢ ﺩﺭ
ﺁﻥ ﻧﺰﺩﯾﮑﯽ ﻫﺴﺖ ﮐﻪ ﭘﺮ ﺍﺳﺖ ﺍﺯ ﺟﻮﺍﻫﺮ ﻭ ﺷﮕﻔﺘﯽ؟ ﺁﻥ ﭼﻨﺎﻥ ﮐﻪ
ﻫﯿﭻ ﻣﺮﺩﯼ ﺁﻥ ﺭﺍ ﻧﺪﯾﺪﻩ ﺍﺳﺖ ﺍﻣﺎ ﻣﯽ ﺗﻮﺍﻧﺪ ﻣﺎﻝ ﺗﻮ ﺑﺎﺷﺪ ﺗﺎ ﺩﺭ ﺁﻥ
ﺯﻧﺪﮔﯽ ﮐﻨﯽ ﺍﻣﺎ ﺁﯾﺎ ﻣﯽ ﺗﻮﺍﻧﯽ ﺩﺳﺘﮕﯿﺮﻩ ﯼ ﺩﺭ ﺁﻥ ﺭﺍ ﺑﯿﺎﺑﯽ؟ »
November 15, 2014
بوبن می گوید: لذتی بالاتر از این نیست که کسی را بیابی،
که جهان را مثل تو ببیند
اینگونه می فهمیم که دیوانه نبوده ایم
تصور کنید در دنیایی احتمالی به شما این پاداش خیالی را بدهند. ابدیت با کسی که تمام اتاق های مخفی روح شما را جستجو کند
داستان را می توان بسیار فراتر از وفاداری یا مهر بی پایان یک زن به همسرش دانست، این نگاه را میتوان همان
منظره ای از یک زن که در اتاق نشیمن میتوان انتظار داشت، دانست.
دوست روانشناسی که داستان را با او مطالعه کردم تلاش زن برای انتظار شنیدن صدای پوتین در ابدیت را در ریشه های مازوخیسم ا و جستجو می کند.
برای من شخصا؛ تعبیر اتاق های مخفی و زوایای پیچیده ی یک روح به یک تجربه شخصی منتهی می شود.. اینکه ایده ال های ما در برابر عادت هایمان در مسیر زندگی؛ حتی با چشم اندازی به وسعت ابدیت تسلیم خواهند شدند
از خانم محمدی بابت در اختیار گذاشتن نسخه رایگان این داستان تشکر می کنم
که جهان را مثل تو ببیند
اینگونه می فهمیم که دیوانه نبوده ایم
تصور کنید در دنیایی احتمالی به شما این پاداش خیالی را بدهند. ابدیت با کسی که تمام اتاق های مخفی روح شما را جستجو کند
داستان را می توان بسیار فراتر از وفاداری یا مهر بی پایان یک زن به همسرش دانست، این نگاه را میتوان همان
منظره ای از یک زن که در اتاق نشیمن میتوان انتظار داشت، دانست.
دوست روانشناسی که داستان را با او مطالعه کردم تلاش زن برای انتظار شنیدن صدای پوتین در ابدیت را در ریشه های مازوخیسم ا و جستجو می کند.
برای من شخصا؛ تعبیر اتاق های مخفی و زوایای پیچیده ی یک روح به یک تجربه شخصی منتهی می شود.. اینکه ایده ال های ما در برابر عادت هایمان در مسیر زندگی؛ حتی با چشم اندازی به وسعت ابدیت تسلیم خواهند شدند
از خانم محمدی بابت در اختیار گذاشتن نسخه رایگان این داستان تشکر می کنم
November 4, 2014
:داستان عشق و وفاداری. ترجمانی از این گفته ی مادر ترزا
"Hungry for love, He looks at you. Thirsty for kindness, He begs of you. Naked for loyalty, He hopes in you. Homeless for shelter in your heart, He asks of you. Will you be that one to Him?"
"Hungry for love, He looks at you. Thirsty for kindness, He begs of you. Naked for loyalty, He hopes in you. Homeless for shelter in your heart, He asks of you. Will you be that one to Him?"
April 23, 2017
Edith Wharton is one of my favourite authors in the world. And this is a beautiful, beautiful short story. In this particular story we hear the story of the death of a woman and her encounter with the spirit of life. The heart of the story reads the most beautiful few sentences:
" Oh, I was fond of him, and we were counted a very happy couple. But I have sometimes thought that a woman's nature is like a great house full of rooms: there's the hall, through which everyone passes in going in and going out; the drawing-room, where one receives formal visits; the sitting-room, where the members of the family come and go as they list; but beyond that, far beyond, are other rooms, the handles of whose doors perhaps are never turned; no one knows the way to them, no one knows whither they lead; and in the innermost room; the holy of holies, the soul sits alone and waits for a footstep that never comes."
There's a mention of Church of Or San Michele in Florence, and the beautiful light in the church. We also hear of the magnificent library of Siena and the Church of the Redeemer in Venice. This is a tale so aptly told! I love this piece to bits! However, it's hard to agree with the conclusions of that particular ghost! 5 Stars. Absolutely 5 Stars.
" Oh, I was fond of him, and we were counted a very happy couple. But I have sometimes thought that a woman's nature is like a great house full of rooms: there's the hall, through which everyone passes in going in and going out; the drawing-room, where one receives formal visits; the sitting-room, where the members of the family come and go as they list; but beyond that, far beyond, are other rooms, the handles of whose doors perhaps are never turned; no one knows the way to them, no one knows whither they lead; and in the innermost room; the holy of holies, the soul sits alone and waits for a footstep that never comes."
There's a mention of Church of Or San Michele in Florence, and the beautiful light in the church. We also hear of the magnificent library of Siena and the Church of the Redeemer in Venice. This is a tale so aptly told! I love this piece to bits! However, it's hard to agree with the conclusions of that particular ghost! 5 Stars. Absolutely 5 Stars.
September 7, 2013
This was so beautiful. Such a sweet reminder of the everyday joys of marriage and to look for those joys. My sister told me about this and that it is in the public domain. It is a very quick 20ish minute read. Strongly recommend.
June 7, 2025
Read this in the dusty corner of an old used bookstore in Boston after searching for at least an hour for a book. Quietly astounding.
December 4, 2015
this story was sad. a lady dies and realizes she never really lived in the first place. what she learns on the other side and the choices she made were sad and foolish (at least I thought so).
January 21, 2018
Una stelletta in più per il racconto sulle Cinque Giornate.
February 11, 2018
I have arranged my thoughts into a haiku:
"Unless glint in gold,
Grasping love soars right over
Pretentious heads."
"Unless glint in gold,
Grasping love soars right over
Pretentious heads."
February 11, 2018
<3 <3 <3
October 29, 2020
Wow, this came so close to becoming one of my new favorite short stories, and then in a heartbeat, it became pedestrian. Though nothing can take away from the evocative descriptive language. Her metaphor that a woman’s nature is "like a great house full of rooms,” some public, some private, with a central chamber that houses her soul, is sublime.
This is a story of a woman who dies and goes to an afterlife where all her dreams can be fulfilled, including finding her soul mate to share it.
As her life flashes before her eyes, the freedom of death is so beautifully evoked as sinking into darkness and awaking surrounded by beauty. In this new realm she encounters The Spirit of Life in a corporeal form (or at least in one that can talk).There is a rum choice to be made, once one chooses who to spend eternity with it's like joining the mafia, there's no going back.
Behind door number one is her soul mate, and they could spend eternity discussing all their interests including art and literature, and have all the time in the world to enjoy reading and discussing books. Behind door number two is the husband who isn't much of a reader, has little appreciation of beauty, and gets on her nerves, but apparently can't get on without her (at least in her mind).
The follow up to this story should be that while she was patiently waiting for her husband to die, he meets his soulmate on Earth and they marry. Then when he dies he chooses the second wife and the first wife can spend eternity kicking herself. Martyrdom is such a bore. I wish she had revisited this story later in life after thirty years of a tedious marriage.
Originally published in 1893. Narrated by Jennifer James Bradshaw. 4 stars for the writing technique.
This is a story of a woman who dies and goes to an afterlife where all her dreams can be fulfilled, including finding her soul mate to share it.
As her life flashes before her eyes, the freedom of death is so beautifully evoked as sinking into darkness and awaking surrounded by beauty. In this new realm she encounters The Spirit of Life in a corporeal form (or at least in one that can talk).There is a rum choice to be made, once one chooses who to spend eternity with it's like joining the mafia, there's no going back.
Behind door number one is her soul mate, and they could spend eternity discussing all their interests including art and literature, and have all the time in the world to enjoy reading and discussing books. Behind door number two is the husband who isn't much of a reader, has little appreciation of beauty, and gets on her nerves, but apparently can't get on without her (at least in her mind).
The follow up to this story should be that while she was patiently waiting for her husband to die, he meets his soulmate on Earth and they marry. Then when he dies he chooses the second wife and the first wife can spend eternity kicking herself. Martyrdom is such a bore. I wish she had revisited this story later in life after thirty years of a tedious marriage.
Originally published in 1893. Narrated by Jennifer James Bradshaw. 4 stars for the writing technique.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 19, 2025
first of all, can we talk about wharton’s writing? it’s absolutely gorgeous, very dreamy and poetic; i loved it!!
the story in itself is quite endearing. the main subject could be how to find happiness in one’s life, and the female narrator goes on about what felt fulfilling to her during her time on earth (art, nature, things like that that just touch your soul) but also about what felt wrong (basically, her husband). i felt it was very powerful of wharton to write explicitly about that.
but then the moral of the story
still a five-star read. the ending aside, i truly adored reading this short story and i believe it realistically depicts women’s existence once married. to me, it feels like she died twice: the first time, she couldn’t choose to leave her husband, but the second time, she chose
the story in itself is quite endearing. the main subject could be how to find happiness in one’s life, and the female narrator goes on about what felt fulfilling to her during her time on earth (art, nature, things like that that just touch your soul) but also about what felt wrong (basically, her husband). i felt it was very powerful of wharton to write explicitly about that.
but then the moral of the story
still a five-star read. the ending aside, i truly adored reading this short story and i believe it realistically depicts women’s existence once married. to me, it feels like she died twice: the first time, she couldn’t choose to leave her husband, but the second time, she chose
November 7, 2025
O povestire superbă pe care am regăsit-o în colecția "Despre dragoste și alte întâmplări" (Cotidianul). Stilul poetic este splendid, Edith Wharton parcă ar picta cu nuanțe inefabile de cuvinte aproape șoptite... Încă de la început m-a surprins...Atât de delicată este descrisă moartea femeii, încât nu m-am prins. Alunecarea în Cealaltă Dimensiune se face prin tușe literare de o finețe aparte.
Un adevăr crud și prozaic zugrăvește Wharton în această povestire - nemulțumirea Omului, dificultatea de a trăi „Plenitudinea vieții” (este și traducerea titlului în lb. română), de a rămâne într-o stare de grație absolută alături de un suflet pereche, atașat fiind de trecut, de obișnuință...
Femeia - căreia i se oferă paradisul alături de sufletul unui bărbat care îi împărtășește gusturile artistice și trăirile adânci - ezită în fața propunerii serafice.
M-a enervat tipa și finalul a fost frustrant, chit că tipic omenesc. :)) De la profunzimi revelatorii și trăiri spirituale greu de pus în cuvinte, femeia a migrat înspre ceață pe creier și superficialitate. Desigur că în lumea spiritelor (părerea și intuiția mea) lucrurile nu se întâmplă așa. Deși reîncarnarea e o invitație de a ne reîntoarce la „trecutul” pământean. Ar fi multe de zis, dar asta e altă discuție. 🔮😊
Un adevăr crud și prozaic zugrăvește Wharton în această povestire - nemulțumirea Omului, dificultatea de a trăi „Plenitudinea vieții” (este și traducerea titlului în lb. română), de a rămâne într-o stare de grație absolută alături de un suflet pereche, atașat fiind de trecut, de obișnuință...
Femeia - căreia i se oferă paradisul alături de sufletul unui bărbat care îi împărtășește gusturile artistice și trăirile adânci - ezită în fața propunerii serafice.
M-a enervat tipa și finalul a fost frustrant, chit că tipic omenesc. :)) De la profunzimi revelatorii și trăiri spirituale greu de pus în cuvinte, femeia a migrat înspre ceață pe creier și superficialitate. Desigur că în lumea spiritelor (părerea și intuiția mea) lucrurile nu se întâmplă așa. Deși reîncarnarea e o invitație de a ne reîntoarce la „trecutul” pământean. Ar fi multe de zis, dar asta e altă discuție. 🔮😊
November 1, 2023
An obscure short story by Edith Wharton that I found in my pursuit of literature by this great writer. Wharton’s writing was beautiful, the prose magnificent. The meaning of behind the story was so touching, so romantic.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
December 17, 2020
I laughed out loud!! This story made me feel good about the afterlife.
October 29, 2022
G: Family: Minimal violence and no gratuitous frightening descriptions. No profanity, sex or nudity, though it may contain offensive slang.
E:Easy: 3rd grade Vocabulary
E:Easy: 3rd grade Vocabulary
January 10, 2023
Sweet and telling. A good marker of human nature.
March 31, 2024
4 stars
April 27, 2015
Set in Italy, this is a very thoughtful view of a wise experienced mature woman, a short story which is a delight to read, with marvelous language and word images to please the reader.
This tale is the author conversing with "the Spirit of Life." This conversation begins with 'As she spoke she felt a sudden thickening of her heart-beats, and looking up she was aware that before her stood the Spirit of Life.'
Here is a later passage to show her use of words and language and color:- She stood, as it seemed, on a threshold, yet no tangible gateway was in front of her. Only a wide vista of light, mild yet penetrating as the gathered glimmer of innumerable stars, expanded gradually before her eyes, in blissful contrast to the cavernous darkness from which she had of late emerged. She stepped forward, not frightened, but hesitating, and as her eyes began to grow more familiar with the melting depths of light about her, she distinguished the outlines of a landscape, at first swimming in the opaline uncertainty of Shelley's vaporous creations, then gradually resolved into distincter shape -- the vast unrolling of a sunlit plain, aerial forms of mountains, and presently the silver crescent of a river in the valley, and a blue stenciling of trees along its curve -- something suggestive in its ineffable hue of an azure background of Leonardo's, strange, enchanting, mysterious, leading on the eye and the imagination into regions of fabulous delight. As she gazed, her heart beat with a soft and rapturous surprise; so exquisite a promise she read in the summons of that hyaline [translucent] distance.
The woman converses with her Spirit. Near the end she replies - "what do you intend to do?" asked the Spirit of Life. "What do I intend to do?" she returned, indignantly. "Why, I mean to wait for my husband, of course. If he had come here first he would have waited for me for years and years; and it would break his heart not to find me here when he comes." She pointed with a contemptuous gesture to the magic vision of hill and vale sloping away to the translucent mountains. "He wouldn't give a fig for all that," she said, "if he didn't find me here." It's a very nice back and forth about the faulty marriage but one lasting for eternity.
This tale is the author conversing with "the Spirit of Life." This conversation begins with 'As she spoke she felt a sudden thickening of her heart-beats, and looking up she was aware that before her stood the Spirit of Life.'
Here is a later passage to show her use of words and language and color:- She stood, as it seemed, on a threshold, yet no tangible gateway was in front of her. Only a wide vista of light, mild yet penetrating as the gathered glimmer of innumerable stars, expanded gradually before her eyes, in blissful contrast to the cavernous darkness from which she had of late emerged. She stepped forward, not frightened, but hesitating, and as her eyes began to grow more familiar with the melting depths of light about her, she distinguished the outlines of a landscape, at first swimming in the opaline uncertainty of Shelley's vaporous creations, then gradually resolved into distincter shape -- the vast unrolling of a sunlit plain, aerial forms of mountains, and presently the silver crescent of a river in the valley, and a blue stenciling of trees along its curve -- something suggestive in its ineffable hue of an azure background of Leonardo's, strange, enchanting, mysterious, leading on the eye and the imagination into regions of fabulous delight. As she gazed, her heart beat with a soft and rapturous surprise; so exquisite a promise she read in the summons of that hyaline [translucent] distance.
The woman converses with her Spirit. Near the end she replies - "what do you intend to do?" asked the Spirit of Life. "What do I intend to do?" she returned, indignantly. "Why, I mean to wait for my husband, of course. If he had come here first he would have waited for me for years and years; and it would break his heart not to find me here when he comes." She pointed with a contemptuous gesture to the magic vision of hill and vale sloping away to the translucent mountains. "He wouldn't give a fig for all that," she said, "if he didn't find me here." It's a very nice back and forth about the faulty marriage but one lasting for eternity.
December 19, 2023
"The Fulness of Life" by Edith Wharton
Somewhat sad yet wholesome.
"No matter," she said cheerfully, I have all eternity to wait in."
To live, but not really. Sad and sobering. ***
"Oh, I was fond of him, and we were counted a very happy couple. But I have sometimes thought that a woman's nature is like a great house full of rooms: there's the hall, through which everyone passes in going in and going out; the drawing-room, where one receives formal visits; the sitting-room, where the members of the family come and go as they list; but beyond that, far beyond, are other rooms, the handles of whose doors perhaps are never turned; no one knows the way to them, no one knows whither they lead; and in the innermost room; the holy of holies, the soul sits alone and waits for a footstep that never comes."
Somewhat sad yet wholesome.
"No matter," she said cheerfully, I have all eternity to wait in."
To live, but not really. Sad and sobering. ***
"Oh, I was fond of him, and we were counted a very happy couple. But I have sometimes thought that a woman's nature is like a great house full of rooms: there's the hall, through which everyone passes in going in and going out; the drawing-room, where one receives formal visits; the sitting-room, where the members of the family come and go as they list; but beyond that, far beyond, are other rooms, the handles of whose doors perhaps are never turned; no one knows the way to them, no one knows whither they lead; and in the innermost room; the holy of holies, the soul sits alone and waits for a footstep that never comes."
August 14, 2011
This is the first of two volumes of translations of short stories by Edith Wharton having Italy as setting or theme.
Very enjoyable reading.
Very enjoyable reading.
April 17, 2016
Witty and clever story about the dilemma that results from the juxtaposition of a "down-to-earth" relationship/marriage and the wish of finding your soulmate.
November 19, 2013
GOOD STORY THAT SHOWS LOYALTY AND COMPASSION.
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