Feminist Readings of Edith Wharton: From Silence to Speech (American Literature Readings in the 21st Century)

In this intriguing new volume, Dianne L. Chambers covers new ground on the life and literary career of Edith Wharton by examining her work against the backdrop of the significant challenges faced by women writers in America at the time. Chambers argues that Wharton’s ultimate success as a critically acclaimed writer offers a powerful, even if radically ironic, response to the repeated stories about the silencing of women found in much of her work. This book offers a close study of Wharton’s major novels written between 1905 and 1922 and illuminates how Wharton’s multi-layered narratives give her a voice and an important place in American literary history.