Edith Wharton

School Library Journal

Gr 7 UpTurk introduces readers to the works of this American writer and shows how childhood circumstances, adult decisions, and social surroundings influenced her choices of topic, plot, and character. An epilogue explains how Wharton's New York has changed and what happened to some old landmarks, a few of which appear in the accompanying black-and-white photographs. Quotes from Wharton's letters and her autobiography A Backward Glance are included. The text is generally clear and easy to understand, but the grammar is sometimes loose and too casual. Also, a red flag is sent up regarding the author's research when she describes the crash scene in Ethan Frome as "Their plan to die in an automobile crash on an icy hill." Automobiles had not yet been invented at the time the story took place. This error, combined with less-than-scholarly writing, leaves this title better left untouched.Joan Soulliere, formerly at Wenham Public Library, MA

Kirkus Reviews

A somewhat simplified overview of Wharton's life: a biography of a wealthy, lonely little girl who used her imagination to make up stories that made her happy and also made her, in 1921, the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize, for The Age of Innocence. In recapping the plot of that novel and providing an abbreviated context for its mores, Turk aptly portrays a real conflict in Wharton's life and in the lives of most YAs: following one's heart vs. doing what is expected by others. Readers may wonder at a time in which people rejected their innermost feelings in the name of duty, but they will see how decisive were the roles of wealth and prestige at the turn of the century. This is biography-lite; fortunately, Turk's bibliography points readers to other studies of Wharton's life, including R.W.B. Lewis's essential work.