The Fruit of the Tree

The Fruit of the Tree

by Edith Wharton
The Fruit of the Tree

The Fruit of the Tree

by Edith Wharton

Paperback

$13.99 
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Overview

Controversial when it was first published in 1907 for its frank treatment of second marriages, desire, divorce, drug addiction, and mercy killing, Edith Wharton's The Fruit of the Tree addresses themes that remain strikingly relevant for today's readers.

Set in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts during the height of the progressive era, the book centers on heroine Justine Brent, a professionally trained nurse who is called upon to attend her childhood friend Bessy Westmore, a rich textile mill owner left paralyzed by a riding accident. When Bessy begs to be released from a life of intense pain and suffering, Justine debates the moral issues and makes the difficult choice to administer a lethal dose of morphine. After Bessy dies, Justine falls in love with her widowed husband and joins him in his efforts to create better conditions for the factory workers. Questions surrounding Bessy's death, however, haunt their relationship, and Justine learns first-hand the tragic consequences of social idealism and reform.

Full of plot twists and turns and finely drawn characters, The Fruit of the Tree is a must read for anyone who has ever fallen under the spell of Wharton's superb prose.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781515346326
Publisher: CreateSpace Publishing
Publication date: 08/04/2015
Pages: 156
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.33(d)

About the Author

Edith Wharton was an American novelist, short story writer, and designer. Wharton combined an insider's view of American aristocracy with a powerful prose style.

Date of Birth:

January 24, 1862

Date of Death:

August 11, 1937

Place of Birth:

New York, New York

Place of Death:

Saint-Brice-sous-Forêt, France

Education:

Educated privately in New York and Europe
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