We’ve just added three new stories by Edith Wharton; Roman Fever, The Fulness Of Life and Xingu.
Edith Wharton’s writing style is characterized by sharp social satire, psychological depth, and the exploration of moral ambiguity within the constraints of upper-class society. In “Roman Fever,” Wharton masterfully employs a restrained, seemingly polite dialogue between two middle-aged women, Alida Slade and Grace Ansley, to reveal a decades-old rivalry rooted in jealousy, deception, and a hidden secret about a child born from an illicit affair. The story’s power lies in its subtle build-up, the ironic twist of the final revelation, and the symbolic use of Rome’s ruins and the historical “Roman fever” (malaria) as metaphors for passion, danger, and moral consequence. The narrative structure, with its layered revelations and the use of irony, forces the reader to become a voyeur, uncovering the hidden emotional and moral turmoil beneath a veneer of propriety.
Similarly, “Xingu” showcases Wharton’s satirical edge, targeting the intellectual pretensions and social snobbery of a group of New York society women. The story centers on a lunch meeting with a famous male author, Osric Dane, whose work is ironically reminiscent of Henry James’s, suggesting a personal literary rivalry. Wharton uses the character of Mrs. Roby, the new and seemingly unsuitable member, to expose the group’s hypocrisy and superficiality, ultimately turning the tables on them with a clever, self-aware act of defiance. This story exemplifies her ability to blend humor with critique, using the characters’ self-importance to highlight the absurdity of their social rituals.
While “The Fulness of Life” is not detailed in this context, Wharton’s consistent style across her works, including the stories mentioned, involves a focus on the contradictions and hypocrisies of society, particularly concerning gender roles and social expectations. Her narratives often explore the tension between outward conformity and inner desire, the consequences of repressed emotions, and the moral cost of societal judgment. Whether through the psychological drama of “Roman Fever” or the satirical wit of “Xingu,” Wharton’s prose is precise, observant, and deeply critical, revealing the complex, often flawed, inner lives of her characters against the backdrop of a rigid social world.