The story of ethan frome had initially begun as a frenchlanguage composition that wharton had to write while studying the language in paris, but several years later she took the story up again and transformed it into the novel it now is, basing her sense of new england culture and place on her ten years of living at the mount, her home in lenox, massachusetts. Literature network edith wharton ethan frome introduction introduction i had the story, bit by bit, from various people, and, as generally happens in such cases, each time it was a different story. A more comprehensive discussion and a complete list of films made from wharton s works appears in scott marshalls edith wharton on film and television. Ethan frome edith wharton audiobook and ebook all you. Wharton s personal experiences, opinions, and passions influenced her writing. You may copy it, give it away or reuse it under the terms of the project gutenberg license included with this ebook or online at.
A ray of hope enters ethans life of despair when his wifes cousin mattie. Ethan frome takes place against a backdrop of the cold, gray, bleakness of a new england winter. First edition, first issue text with wearily unbattered on p. This reminds me of the works of george eliot and thomas hardy. An exlibrary book and may have standard library stamps andor stickers. Ethan frome is a pulitzer prize winning novel set in the fictional town of starkfield, massachusetts. Set against a bleak new england background, the novel tells of frome, his ailing wife zeena and her companion mattie silver, superbly delineating the characters of each as they are drawn relentlessly into a deeprooted domestic struggle. The free library literature edith wharton ethan frome introduction introduction. Introduction introduction i had the story, bit by bit, from various people, and, as generally happens in such cases, each time it was a different story. Edith wharton, ethan frome from the publisher carol singleys fine edition of ethan frome provides a detailed introduction to the novels main themes and contexts, helpful explanatory notes throughout the text, and a useful bibliography for further reading. Ethan is a man in his early fifties who is obviously strong, and obviously crippled.
False dawn the forties 1924 text at gutenberg australia wharton, edith, 18621937. The younger one mentioned it recently, and i decided to give it a read. Penguin classics presents edith wharton s ethan frome, adapted for audio and available as a digital download as part of the penguin english library series. Edith wharton s verse, 18791919, from various journals, ed. Edith whartons ethan frome is a classic of american literature, with compelling characters trapped in circumstances from which they seem unable to escape. Edith wharton wharton, edith, 18621937 online books about this author are available, as is a wikipedia article wharton, edith, 18621937. Both of my sons love this book and talk about it frequently. Chapter v they finished supper, and while mattie cleared the table ethan went to look at the cows and then took a last turn about the house.
Even before that final initiation, however, i had had an uneasy sense that the new england of fiction bore. Ethan frome, a poor, downtrodden new england farmer is trapped in a loveless marriage to his invalid wife, zeena. The project gutenberg ebook of ethan frome, by edith wharton this ebook is. As a child, she studied with private tutors at governesses at home, and by age 18 she had published poems in magazines including the atlantic monthly. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic. Edith wharton 18621937 was born into a tightly controlled society at a time when women were discouraged from achieving anything beyond a proper marriage. The film relates the sad story of reclusive farmer ethan frome. Wharton s books and is certain to endure longer because it is magnificent storytelling. Ethan frome penguin classics wharton, edith, ammons, elizabeth, ammons. Recent updates to this page include information from this article.
One can distinguish several kinds of constraintsit is clear that zeena is not affected by exactly the same problems as ethan or mattie. Set against the bleak winter landscape of new england, ethan frome is the story of a poor farmer, lonely and downtrodden, his wife zeena, and her cousin, the enchanting mattie silver. The younger one mentioned it recently, and i decided to give it a. Pulitzer prizewinning american writer and designer edith wharton 18621937 is the author of the house of mirth, the age of innocence, ethan frome, the decoration of houses, and many other books.
First published in 1911, ethan frome is widely regarded as edith whartons most revealing novel and her finest achievement in fiction. Set against the frozen waste of a harsh new england winter, edith whartons ethan frome is a tale of despair, forbidden. Common types of primary sources include works of literature, historical documents, original philosophical writings, and religious texts. Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary. First edition, first issue with wearily in perfect type on penultimate line of page 5 and with four pages of publishers advertisements at rear, of whartons greatest tragic story, a grim tale of a bud of romance icebound and turned into a frozen horror in the frigid setting of a new. Ethan frome is an isolated farmer trying to scrape out a meager living while also tending to his frigid, demanding and ungrateful wife, zeena. Whartons books and is certain to endure longer because it is magnificent storytelling. If you know the postoffice you must have seen ethan frome drive up to it, drop the reins on his hollowbacked bay. First edition of the authors pulitzerprize winning novel. His ambition and intelligence are oppressed by zeenas cold, conniving character. Ethan frome is a great advisory tale of what might happen when you do not listen to your heart and follow it. The narrator s suspicion that the deeper meaning of ethan frome s story lies in the gaps between scattered details also guides us as readers. Ethan frome wisehouse classics edition with an introduction by edith wharton.
A very good copy with some light wear to the spine. The main characters are ethan frome, his wife zenobia, called zeena, and her young cousin mattie silver. Perhaps the bestknown and most popular of edith wharton s novels, ethan frome is widely considered her masterpiece. A departure from the typical setting of her fictionthe world of urban high societythe novel takes place in the. Perhaps the bestknown and most popular of edith whartons novels, ethan frome is widely considered her masterpiece. The man becomes fascinated with ethan and wants to know his story. Edith wharton was born edith newbold jones on january 24, 1862, in new york city to george frederic jones and lucretia stevens rhinelander jones. The earth lay dark under a muffled sky and the air was so still that now and then he heard a lump of snow come thumping down from a. Author of the age of innocence, ethan frome, and the house of mirth, she wrote over 40 books in 40. Ethan frome by edith wharton nook book ebook barnes.
Ethan inserts its code into the beginning of the thisdocument module. Though temporary, it is also hidden as a system file. Wharton, edith, ammons, elizabeth, ammons, elizabeth. A primary source is a work that is being studied, or that provides firsthand or direct evidence on a topic. A more comprehensive discussion and a complete list of films made from whartons works appears in scott marshalls edith wharton on film and television.
It is the story of ethan frome and his icecube of a wife, zeena, who is also a hypchondriac. Introduction ethan frome chapter i chapter ii chapter iii chapter iv. Literary essay on edith whartons ethan frome examine the theme of prisoners in the novel. Wharton, edith, 18621937 published by edited by kristin o.
Ethan frome is considered by many critics to be whartons finest work, although the rural setting and length is atypical of her output. Publishers red cloth, lettered in gilt, top edge gilt. First published in 1911, ethan frome is widely regarded as edith wharton s most revealing novel and her finest achievement in fiction. Ethan frome is a departure in subject material, focusing instead on a western massachusetts mountain town and its poor farming residents. It is set in the fictitious town of starkfield, massachusetts. Set in the highly symbolic wintry landscape of starkfield, massachusetts, the narrative centers on the title characters fraught relationships with his sickly, cantankerous wife zeena and his young, beautiful cousin mattie silver. Ethan frome ethan frome by edith wharton is a compact and highly effective novella. The free library literature edith wharton ethan frome introduction introduction i had the story, bit by bit, from various people, and, as generally happens in such cases, each time it was a different story. Considering himself too long for romance, he enters into a loveless marriage with a wealthy but spiteful young women name zeena. Buy ethan frome penguin classics by edith wharton, elizabeth ammons from amazons fiction books store.
Ethan frome by edith wharton essaysethan frome takes place in massachusetts in the late19th century. Introduction by chelsea cain by ira levin paperback. But its still vintage wharton in her use of language, structure, and irony. The work was adapted into a popular 1993 film of the same name. Ethan frome is a novel by edith wharton that was first published in 1911. He seemed a part of the mute melancholy landscape, an incarnation of its frozen woe, with all that was warm and sentient in him fast bound below the surface ethan frome. Wharton broke through these strictures to become one of americas greatest writers. Pages are intact and are not marred by notes or highlighting, but may contain a neat previous owner name. Afterward original magazine version illustrated html at virginia wharton, edith, 18621937.
Ethan frome by edith wharton, narrated by elizabeth klett. In 1879, she married edward wharton, a boston banker. Ethan frome is considered by many critics to be wharton s finest work, although the rural setting and length is atypical of her output. The novel was adapted into a film, ethan frome, in 1993. Although frome seems ambitious and intelligent, zeena holds him back. The age of innocence gutenberg text wharton, edith, 18621937.
Ethan frome is introduced from an omniscient narrators point of view. I had known something of new england village life long before i made my home in the same county as my imaginary starkfield. I suppose our sympathies ought to lie, to some extent, with one of those books i read when i was young, but always thought i should read again. A teachers guide to the signet classic edition of edith whartons ethan frome. Ethan frome by edith wharton, first edition abebooks. I had the story, bit by bit, from various people, and, as generally happens in such cases, each time it was a different story. When her young cousin mattie comes to stay on their new england farm, frome falls in love with her. The novel was published in 1911, set in the fictitious town of starkfield, massachusetts, whose naming is a subtle overture to the books mood. Zeenas cousin, mattie, comes to live in and help and of course she is verbally abused by zeena. A copy that has been read, but remains in excellent condition. Frome and zeena marry after she nurses his mother in her last illness. Like so many of wharton s characters, ethan frome is searching for his place in the world and hoping for a happiness that is always just out of his reach. Ethan frome, 1993 a film adaptation starring liam neeson as ethan, joan allen as zeena, and patricia arquette as mattie.
Literature network edith wharton ethan frome authors note authors note i had known something of new england village life long before i made my home in the same county as my imaginary starkfield. If you know the postoffice you must have seen ethan frome drive. Penguin classics presents edith whartons ethan frome, adapted for audio and available as a digital download as part of the penguin english library series. Published in 1911, ethan frome is widely regarded as edith wharton s most revealing novel and her finest achievement in fiction. Like so many of whartons characters, ethan frome is searching for his place in the world and hoping for a happiness that is always just out of his reach. In the playing out of this short novels powerful and engrossing drama, edith wharton constructed her least characteristic and most celebrated book. I dont remember ever reading it though i saw the movie with liam neeson and patricia arquette a long time ago. In her introduction, the distinguished critic elaine showalter.
It tells the story of ethan frome, a young man with a sickly wife, zeena, who has fallen in love with his wifes cousin, mattie, who lives with the fromes to assist with zeenas healthcare. Information courtesy of the internet movie database. Edith wharton is known primarily for her novels of manners skewering the new york city aristocracy. It changes the title of the infected documents to ethan frome, the author. Free downloadable version in kindle or epub format. Set in the bleak, barren winter landscape of new england, it is the tragic tale of a simple man, bound to the demands of his farm and his tyrannical, sickly wife, zeena, and driven by his starcrossed love for zeenas young cousin, mattie silver. Edith wharton wharton, edith, 18621937 the online books page. Wharton describes a tragically dysfunctional love triangle with deeply developed characters.
If you know starkfield, massachusetts, you know the postoffice. Throughout the whole book, we always feel the great impression of constraint on ethan, mattie and zeena. Ethan frome gutenberg text wharton, edith, 18621937. Young ethan frome walked at a quick pace along the deserted street, past the bank and michael eadys new brick store and lawyer varnums house with the two black norway spruces at the gate. A new york city aristocrat and the author of over 50 books, edith wharton born edith newbold jones wrote poetry and fiction that explored high society life. Ethan frome, a mild mannered yet weak willed young man, trudges through his days in a haze of hopelessness. Set in the bleak, barren landscape of new england, it is the tragic tale of ethan frome, bound to the demands of his farm and his tyrannical wife, zeena, and his star crossed love for zeenas vivacious cousin, mattie. Wharton s protagonists challenge social taboos, but are unable to overcome the barriers of social convention. When zeenas young cousin mattie arrives to help care for her, ethan is immediately taken by matties warm, vivacious personality. Ethan frome 1911 is a classic short novel by american author edith wharton. Ethan frome by edith wharton, 1922 online research.
About near fine, with some light wear to the extremities, faint soiling to the front board, slight lean to the spine, former owner name erased from front. Wharton creates an enormous structural gap by beginning the novel near the end of its chronological progression, and the bulk of the novel serves to fill that gap. Set in the bleak, barren winter landscape of new england, it is the tragic tale of a simple man, bound to the demands of his farm and his tyrannical, sickly wife, zeena, and driven by his starcrossed love for. Ethan frome wisehouse classics edition with an introduction by edith wharton edith wharton. The project gutenberg ebook of ethan frome, by edith wharton this ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. If you are unsure of how to add these files to your ereader, look here. Buy ethan frome the penguin english library by edith wharton from amazons fiction books store. With an introduction by dr pamela knights, department of english studies, durham university. A nameless engineer is in starkfield, massachusetts on business and he first sees ethan frome at the post office. Lauer is associate professor of english at fordham university.