Edith Wharton: A Portrait of the First Female Writer to Win the Pulitzer Prize

Edith Wharton was an American writer who gained fame in the late 19th and early 20th centuries for her compelling stories about the upper class she grew up in. She made history as the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Her books defied social norms and she exposed the "sins" of the upper class in her works.

In this article, I will briefly focus on the life and work of Edith Wharton and explore how Wharton's works remain interesting and relatable for today's readers.

Edith Wharton'ın Life and Career

Edith Wharton, c. 1895

Born in New York in 1862, Wharton came from a distinguished and well-established family. Educated by private tutors and governesses, she traveled frequently. Although their marriage was far from happy, at the age of twenty she married the banker Edward Wharton. This turbulent marriage ended in 1913.

Edith Wharton began writing stories and poems when she was very young and published her first collection of short stories in 1891. A highly prolific writer, Edith Wharton has written more than 40 novellas, novels and short stories throughout her career.

Wharton actually began writing seriously in 1885 and published her first novel, The Valley of Decision, in 1902, at the age of 40. Set in Italy before the French Revolution of 1789, this historical romance sold nearly 25,000 copies in six months. This commercial success paved the way for Wharton's classic pre-World War I novels such as The House of Mirth (1905) and Ethan Frome (1911). She made history as the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1921 for her novel Age of Innocence.

Theodore Roosevelt, who appeared with a minor cameo role in this novel, met Wharton during a visit to Newport. Edith Wharton had lunch with the 26th President of the United States at the White House and corresponded with him for years. Henry James was one of Wharton's literary idols, and the two became close friends after James sent Wharton an admiring letter about her short story "The Line of Least Resistance". Sadly, however, Wharton did make ruthless criticisms of works of (such as Ulysses and Mrs. Dalloway) masters such as James Joyce and Virginia Woolf.

Style and Themes of Her Work

Edith Wharton, The Age of Innocence

Wharton's works contain keen observations of the social customs and behavior of the upper class. Her work often presents themes of freedom and self-expression, as well as some critique of societal constraints and conventions. The author is known for her social realist works and witty, incisive commentary on the Gilded Age. Wharton's writing style falls under the category of social realism, a style from the second half of the nineteenth century. She includes subtle, dramatic ironies in her works. Her novels offer readers a witty and satirical language, a certain moral seriousness, and lively spaces.

Edith Wharton's Legacy

Each of Edith Wharton's works has made a significant contribution to the American literary canon. Her works still continue to be widely read and studied today. Her insightful observations of the upper-class society she grew up in, her exploration of timeless themes, and her sharp pen position her as a unique and important voice in American literature. If you've never read her before, I strongly suggest you meet with Edith Wharton.

Edith Wharton Adaptations

Martin Scorsese's The Age of Innocence

Film and TV versions of Edith Wharton's books have also appeared frequently.

Daniel Day-Lewis, Michelle Pfeiffer and Winona Ryder star in Martin Scorsese's adaptation of The Age of Innocence (1993). Known for its attention to period details, this film was awarded an Oscar for Best Costume Design.

Liam Neeson plays our enigmatic protagonist in Ethan Frome (1993), alongside Joan Allen and Patricia Arquette. Gillian Anderson appears in The House of Mirth (2000) as a woman who suffered a tragic fall as a member of high society.

And very soon we will be watching a TV adaptation of Edith Wharton. Famed director Sofia Coppola is preparing an adaptation of The Custom of the Country (1913) for Apple TV+. We eagerly await.