Edith Wharton The House of Mirth,The Custom of the Country, The Age of Innocence

In this Readers' Guide, Stuart Hutchinson analyzes the most significant writings on The House of Mirth (1905), The Custom of the Country (1913) and The Age of Innocence (1920). Beginning with Wharton's own comments on the novels, he moves on to the contemporary responses of Henry James and challenging reviews such as Katherine Mansfield's, before turning to stimulating critical writing from later perspectives. Geoffrey Walton, Blake Nevius, and R. W. B. Lewis feature among others, followed by feminist insights from Cynthia Griffin Wolff, Elizabeth Ammons, and Elaine Showalter. This Guide is an essential resource for understanding the changing responses to Wharton's work.