Edith Wharton and the Art of Fiction

Vita-Finzi (English literature and theatre studies, Ealing College, London) explores Wharton's concept of the artist through a study of her fiction, published and unpublished, and autobiographical material. She shows that Wharton's views were rooted in 19th century thought rather than contemporary literary and intellectual debates, and refutes the view of Wharton as a standard 19th century "woman writer". Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR