The Touchstone

 

Title The Touchstone
Author Edith Wharton
Genre Drama, Fiction, Literary Fiction, Psychological
Format Digital

 

+ 100 Total Pages

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Book Description

The Touchstone is a novella by Edith Wharton that delves into themes of morality, ambition, and guilt. The story follows Stephen Glennard, a struggling young man who comes into possession of the private letters of a deceased, famous writer who once loved him. Seeing an opportunity, he sells the letters for publication, achieving financial success but at the cost of his conscience. As his guilt festers, it threatens his relationships and his sense of self, forcing him to confront the true price of his actions.

 

About Author

Edith Wharton

Edith Wharton (1862–1937) was an American novelist, short story writer, and designer, best known for her keen observations of high society and her exploration of themes like class, morality, and the constraints of social conventions. Born into a wealthy New York family, she was well-acquainted with the upper-class society she often depicted in her works.

Wharton published over 40 books in her lifetime, including The House of Mirth (1905), Ethan Frome (1911), and The Age of Innocence (1920), the latter of which won her the Pulitzer Prize, making her the first woman to receive the award. Her writing often critiqued the rigid structures of the elite and the limitations placed on women in society.

Beyond literature, Wharton was also a skilled interior designer and travel writer. During World War I, she lived in France and was deeply involved in humanitarian efforts. She remained in France until her death in 1937. Her legacy endures as one of the most important voices in American literature.