Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome was published in 1911. This novella is a tragic tale set in the fictional town of Starkfield, Massachusetts. The story is narrated by an unnamed visitor who encounters Ethan Frome, a man with a mysterious and tragic past. As the narrative unfolds, it delves into the complex relationships and emotions of Ethan, his wife Zeena, and her young cousin Mattie.
The novel is best understood in the context of Wharton's personal life. Her marriage to Edward Wharton had been difficult from the beginning and in 1908 she began an affair with Morton Fullerton; this affair parallels the theme of doomed passion in Ethan Frome. The novella explores human desires, the...
