Edith Wharton: A Biography

by R.W.B. Lewis

A full-scale critical biography of the turn-of-the-century American novelist, detailing the relation between her life and works, assessing her literary dedication and accomplishment, and arguing her place as a writer of the first importance

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, History, Biography Memoir, Classics, Literature, American

592 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

Richard Warrington Baldwin Lewis was an American literary scholar and critic who won a Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography in 1976.

Reviews

[Sketchbook · Rating 3 out of 5]

The real interest of this badly writ-slog, a travel and trivia focused bio, is abt 80 pages on Wharton's "secret" romance w US journalist in Europe, the saucy, sexy Morton Fullerton (1865-1952), who made both sexes very happy, but most especially older "rich" ladies like Lady Brooke, the Ranee of Sarawak (remember East Borneo?), and Henrietta Mirecourt, a French bitch who blackmailed him over his various love letters, including those from UK aristo Lord Ronald Gower. The delightfully randy Morty bought off vengeful mistress Mirecourt w help from >> guess? Edith Wharton.

Introduced to Fullerton in 1907 by Henry James, who had a pash for Morton, EW had the only sex thrills of her life, in her late 40s, until the love that was too hot to cool down finally simmered, c 1910 (EW clearly never forgot). When sealed EW papers were opened in 1969, bio author Lewis first learned abt Fullerton, a London Times correspondent in Paris and later a writer for Figaro. And thus we all did. EW preferred the company of her "confirmed bachelor circle," like Henry James, Howard Sturgis, Walter Berry, etc.~~Then along came Fullerton: Brava, Edie ! She really liked it! What is this thing called love? Now, at last, she knew, after years of a sexless marriage, by choice, w weak, dependent Teddy Wharton.

The affair w MF (which had run its course, like most) was the most emotional thing that 'er happened to her. Proof: she couldnt even mention MFs name in her uber-discreet memoir, "A Backward Glance," in 1934, though they were still in touch. She felt abandoned by MF and also "used." But so what. She'd been memorably, aaah, "tickled." Given her fame by then, her imperious and controlling personality, EW was humbled (not as Stanley humbled Blanche) by Fullerton. It's all in her love poems and begging letters to MF.

The power of the cock.

[Caroline S. Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative regarding the life of Edith Wharton, but the last two chapters appear rushed and incomplete. At 592 pages it is no wonder - Lewis simply ran out of space. I think Lewis wanted to emphasize the happier, busier times of Edith rather than the lonely end with all of her friends preceding her in death. She was an incredibly prolific author, proficient in many languages, and a member of many elite social circles. And yet Edith seemed to feel alone within a crowd full of people.

[Michael Canoeist · Rating 3 out of 5]

This biography of Edith Wharton won the Pulitzer and Bancroft prizes when it came out. And I am only on p. 31 at this moment, but I am already finding a lot of thud moments in the writing. His big interpretations seem labored, prosaic, and debatable. I am simultaneously reading Edith Wharton: An Extraordinary Life - an Illustrated Biography, which is only 280 pages with pictures on almost every one, yet it gives more rounding to the person Edith Wharton was than the prize-winning bio does, at least for me. I am afraid Lewis's book is going to prove very much a professor's book. For all the details I am going to learn, I get the feeling the real woman will never appear before my eyes as I read it. Which is quite a shame, because for me Wharton and Faulkner are the two great American writers none of the others can quite approach. She is certainly a favorite of mine. Will update when I finish. Hope I am wrong, as there are still 500 pages to go!

In the end, a thorough and fair accounting of her life and I upgraded my rating to three stars. Three appendices cover (a) the possibility, believed by some of her best friends, that Edith had a different father than her beloved George Frederic Jones; (b) the remarkable romantic career of her lover Morton Fullerton; and (c) the detailed outline and erotic fragment of an unusual story called "Beatrice Palmato," about an incestuous relationship, found in her papers long after Mrs. Wharton's death.

[Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wharton is a literary hero of mine. In the 21st century I still continue to feel various expectations from family, community, religion and society. I can only imagine the insufferable structure and discipline and conformity she grew up in as a member of one of New York's most prominent families. That, even in that time, thousand times more confirming and constricting than now, she had the temerity to finally stand up and decide to do what her soul, mind and heart drove her to do: write. The fact that she was and is probably the most brilliant female novelist in American history, in the 19th-20th century, comes back again and again as a suprise when as you feel empathy and jealousy of the life that she made for herself. What a brave, self-confident and incredible woman. The biography was, while long, extremely well-written and even-handed. No one is perfect, and Ms. Wharton certainly doesn't belong on a pedestal, but the true brilliance and uniqueness of her nature shines through every page. I'd also suggest that you read it while reading other things - it's fine to take a break and it is, in fact, looooong, even for an ardent fan.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very well-written, though long and not very exciting (although this is not the biographer's fault). An respectful examination of the life of Edith Wharton.

[John Vanderslice · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's rather dry in parts, and focuses a bit too much on her friendship with Henry James, as if what James says about anything simply must demand attention from Lewis, but certainly this book is authoritative. Dry but authoritative. Lewis's text reminds me why I would much rather be reading Wharton's fiction. Or anyone's fiction . . .

[M Delea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitive voice in Wharton studies.

[Terence Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

For my Huffington Post review of this book, go to http://www.huffingtonpost.com/terence...

[Tom Bantle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ultimate biography of an extraordinary woman. Lewis in his exhaustive research (along with several other researchers) totally revised the previous characterization of Wharton as a somewhat repressed Victorian lady writer. That may have been Wharton's life with her ill-suited husband, Teddy, but Lewis has uncovered a rich panoply of lovers, possible lovers, and besotted men throughout Wharton's life. Before marrying Teddy, Wharton had been engaged to Henry Stevens, but his mother cut that off. She had been courted and thought she was going to be proposed to by Walter Van Rensselaer Berry, but he left abruptly and she didn't hear from him again for nine years; ultimately he became the closest of friends (and perhaps lover, but all their correspondence was burned) and died in her arms. Most surprisingly and most well-documented, Wharton had a torrid affair with journalist and multiple philanderer Morton Fullerton. Fullerton, after Wharton's death wrote to her first biographer to try to ensure Wharton would not be portrayed as cold and frigid. Appendix C of this biography is an outline of a story, "Beatrice Palmato" that centered on incest and included a utterly pornographic fragment.

But her personal life is only one aspect that Lewis explores. He painstakingly recounts her writing and publishing, with its unmatched recreation of 19th-century New York, and her relations with other literary luminaries such as Henry James and Bernard Berenson. James was a close friend but always resented Wharton because her books far outsold his. Lewis also explores Wharton's support of the next generation of American writers such as Sinclair Lewis and F. Scott Fitzgerald.

As impressive was Wharton's charity work. She supported several of her female relatives and servants when they fell upon hard times. During World War I she started and actively worked in a slew of charities, particularly for Belgian refugees, French displaced persons, tuberculosis victims and ambulance corps. She was given the nations' highest civilian honors by both France and Belgium.

She was an inveterate traveler, particularly by motorcar, having her retinue of chauffeur, maid and sometimes a cook. She was often accompanied by men on these travels.

If there is a criticism, it would be that biography is too complete, with a cast of literally hundreds of Wharton's associates.

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent biography on a woman writer I knew nothing about. This book takes you through some of our countries biggest events (Industrial Revolution, the Great War and the Depression) and helps you understand the lifestyle of the rich and privileged during these epoch times in America.

[Mike Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an author, what a life. It makes you wonder what has happened to good literature in contemporary times.

[Trina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vivid portrait of Edith Wharton and her place in the literary world of late 19th century America. Love her writings & glad to learn everything that went into it.

[Aya · Rating 3 out of 5]

My main problem at the moment is the somewhat familiar tone that Lewis seems to be taking. Overall the narrative doesn't seem to impart information very well. On page 209 it's noted that Wharton is about to begin the release of "The Custom of the Country" but a lot more detail is spend discussing trips and meals and friends than books. Lewis is attempting to do justice to a writer he perceives as humorous and warm. While I agree w/his goal at points I am not finding the text to be ideal for my research. I am hoping Hermione Lee's work on Wharton is as exhaustive as her work on Woolf.

[Richard Kramer]

read this a thousand years ago. lewis was one of my english professors. he changed my life, although i don't remember how, exactly. but he changed it. david milch was his teaching assistant. did i read middlemarch in that class?
i remember the revelation of this was that she had a late blooming but rich erotic awakening. free association ... scorsese age of innocence is awful. terrence davies house of mirth is one of my favorite films ever.
oh yeah, a few years ago i read custom of the country which is my favorite of the big three. undine spragg c'est moi.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this a few years ago as part of my thesis research, and I found the book most useful. Despite the current "hurrah!" attitude toward Hermione Lee's Wharton biography, I prefer this one - Lee has a few errors that piss me off.

This book won the Pulitzer Prize, which is interesting considering Wharton was the first woman to win the Pulitzer. It's an informative biography that is still useful today. And avoid Lee - ugh.

[Shirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not just a biography but history. It took awhile to get through, but it was worth every minute. Edith surrounded herself with various authors and prominent people in whatever country she was either visiting or residing. WWl,Parisian and American politics had her attention and sometimes direct involvement. No wonder this biography was a Pulitzer prize winner.

[Leslie]

To follow up with my new found fascination regarding all things Edith (including her home in the Berkshires which I plan to go and visit now), a recommendation from my sister-in-law that she said is excellent. The library ordred it for me and I cannot wait to dive in .I am lingering over Age of Innocence; just a few more pages to savor.

[Dyer]

Bought years ago after listening to two of her books on tape and then watching the movie adaptation of the Age of Innocence by Martin Scorsese. The two books: Ethan Fromme and The House of Mirth. Unforgetable characters in all three. Conflicted flawed and reflections of the mores of the times they lived. I anticipate reading this biography soon during my retirement.

[Kay Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the definitive biography of Edith Wharton, first published in hardcover in 1975. It is still the best biography on the market about Edith Wharton. It contains personal details Wharton biographers seldom discuss.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most well written if not the most well written biography I've ever read. Edith Wharton, way ahead of her time, and RWB Lewis, pages upon pages of praise would not do his work justice. What an incredible experience reading this book.

[Sara]

1976 pulitzer-biography

[Aneece · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice balance between telling her story and critiquing her work.

[Pat]

Did Edith Wharton and Theodate Pope Riddle ever meet? Just went to Hillsdale Museum and I highly recommend the house tour!

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another one listed by the Guardian as in the top ten literary biographies and I agree.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Certainly a definitive, perhaps the deepest and best documented biography of one of our greatest writers. Gently brilliant. Not quite as insightful as one would wish (see Brightman’s Writing Dangerously on Mary McCarthy for brilliant insight from a more open subject), in part because Wharton was so enigmatic.