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.

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.

The real interest of this semi-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.

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.

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.

1976 pulitzer-biography

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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