Do You Know Edith Wharton?
@BelleStarr (61463)
United States
June 7, 2017 7:53pm CST
I have to admit, I don't know her well. I remember in High School reading Ethan Frome and since then I have enjoyed the Buccaneers. I have never read the Age of Innocence and I bought a copy of it today at her home in Lennox, Ma. "The Mount".
They offer a lovely guided tour of the house and it was fascinating. I learned so much about her that I never knew. If you are ever in the area, I highly recommend that you take the time to visit, it is an hour well spent. After the house tour, we visited the garden so I could take some photos.
19 people like this
18 responses
@DianneN (254926)
• United States
8 Jun 17
I loved Edith Wharton. I was an English lit major in college, and believe I've read everything she's ever written. I would love to visit Lennox to see her home. Terrific photo of her garden, too. Perhaps we can visit when we go to Boston.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
8 Jun 17
What is wonderful is that this is not a hands-off kind of tour, they encourage you to sit on the furniture and enjoy the house. She was quite an amazing woman in many different ways. Did you know her first book was about home decor?
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
9 Jun 17
@DianneN Her dining room was lovely and probably my favorite room but none of the furniture is original so they have only black and white photos to go by.
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@DianneN (254926)
• United States
8 Jun 17
@BelleStarr That is wonderful! No, I didn't know that. I guess I didn't read all her books afterall, or have forgotten. lol Did you get any good decorating ideas???
1 person likes this
@Rollo1 (16676)
• Boston, Massachusetts
8 Jun 17
We didn't read Ethan Frome in high school but the book was in my house (some older sibling must have read it in high school) and anything in the bookcase was fair game, so I did read Ethan Frome. I have never read anything else by her. The garden looks lovely. I wonder if it is too late to write a book, make millions and buy a stately home with meticulously manicured grounds? Yeah, probably. Oh well.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
8 Jun 17
She was in her 40s when she was first published and about 60 when she won the Pulitzer Prize so I think there is still time.
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
10 Jun 17
We are having a nice time, there are lots of things to do in this area. More than I ever realized.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (56199)
• Canada
10 Jun 17
@BelleStarr Oh that is wonderful, I'm so happy for you both!
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
9 Jun 17
Yes it is very pretty the house itself is gorgeous.
1 person likes this
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
10 Jun 17
@BelleStarr I can imagine with a garden that beautiful.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
8 Jun 17
Visiting Wharton's home is on my radar if I ever get to Massachusetts.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
10 Jun 17
It is a lovely place and there are a few other interesting homes in the area. Hildene is only about maybe an hour and a half away.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
12 Jun 17
Visiting her house really familiarized her for me, before that she was just a name.
1 person likes this
@RubyHawk (99367)
• Atlanta, Georgia
13 Jun 17
@BelleStarr It would be interesting to see where she lived and worked.
@KrauseHome (36445)
• United States
9 Jun 17
I have heard of her, and I am sure I may have probably read one of her books as I recognize the names. As to getting to do the tour, when you live on the other side of the US, this may never happen.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
9 Jun 17
Yes I can understand that. You can see some photos on their website and I am going to have an article about it on my blog.
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
9 Jun 17
It is a lovely garden to walk and enjoy.
1 person likes this
@silvermist (19701)
• India
11 Jun 17
Yes,I am familiar with the books of Edith Wharton. But it has been years since I read anything by her.Beautiful photo.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
11 Jun 17
Thank you, I really enjoyed visiting her home, the gardens are lovely.
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
8 Jun 17
I have heard of her sure Belle, but have never read her.
Oh my, you are lucky, I bet that was beautiful.
I would enjoy that so much..where is this photo?
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
8 Jun 17
It is the garden in the back of her home in Lennox, Ma. which is in Western Massachusetts.
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
8 Jun 17
@BelleStarr It is astoundingly beautiful.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
8 Jun 17
what a treat! i'm sad to say i aint read 'ny 'f her works'n many years. shameful, i know. tryin' to recall if'n i've read the book ya jest bought? yepperz, been so long i jest don't recall.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
10 Jun 17
I am hoping to read it and do a review fr my blog, I started a book review blog and I just haven't been keeping it up with it the way that I should.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
11 Jun 17
@BelleStarr what? ya mean we're 'pposed to keep those'p?? ;)
@bluesa (15022)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
9 Jun 17
I had never heard of her before, Iz, I will check for her at the library. It's great you got to tour her home @BelleStarr .
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
9 Jun 17
She was the first woman to win a Pulitzer Prize so she does deserve a read.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
9 Jun 17
She had a very interesting life and was an excellent writer.
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
10 Jun 17
Yes it is a lovely home that once belonged to a great writer.
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
8 Jun 17
After taking this tour, I feel like she is a close friend or maybe a relative.
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
10 Jun 17
Wharton was her married name but the two Wharton families were related but not too closely.
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
10 Jun 17
Me too and this was a particularly good one, but then a good tour guide makes all the difference and ours was excellent.
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
8 Jun 17
Yes that is just a very small piece of it, she created a lovely oasis in the Berkshires.
