Summer

"Summer" by Edith Wharton is a novel written during the early 20th century, around the time of World War I. The story centers around Charity Royall, a young woman who is deeply aware of her isolated and confined life in the small, bleak village of North Dormer. The narrative begins to unfold Charity's inner turmoil and desire for a more vibrant existence as she grapples with her origins and current situation, leading her to confront the mundane realities of life, personal aspirations, and the stark contrast presented by a new stranger in her town. The opening of the novel introduces beautiful imagery of the natural surroundings and sets a tone of longing and discontent as Charity observes a handsome stranger who disrupts the monotony of her life. Charity's thoughts reveal her struggles with self-identity and her feelings of being trapped in a lifeless place, having been brought down from the Mountain—a place laden with shame and a painful past. This chance encounter with Lucius Harney, the young man who becomes a pivotal figure in her life, drives Charity to yearn for connection and greater understanding of herself. The beginning reveals her complex feelings about her environment and foreshadows the emotional awakening and conflicts that will follow in her journey toward self-discovery.