Edith Wharton Books in Order

Edith Wharton is a celebrated American novelist, short story writer, and designer. Born into a life of wealth and privilege, Wharton's family is often cited as the inspiration for the phrase "keeping up with the Joneses." She spent her early years touring Europe with her parents before settling into a privileged childhood in New York and Newport, Rhode Island. Wharton's creative talents emerged early, and by the age of eighteen, she had written a novella and published poetry in the Atlantic Monthly. Her experiences with love and marriage inform many of her novels, which often explore the tensions between personal desires and societal expectations. Wharton's literary career gained momentum with the publication of her first major novel, The House of Mirth, in 1905, followed by Ethan Frome six years later. A prominent figure in literary circles, Wharton socialized with notable writers and artists, including Henry James, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Jack London.