Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton (1911)

Name: Ethan Frome
Author: Edith Wharton

Ethan Frome is a novel by Edith Wharton, first published in 1911. It tells the story of a poor farmer, Ethan Frome, and his wife, Zeena, living in a small New England town. Ethan is a hardworking man, but his life is filled with sadness and despair. He is trapped in a loveless marriage to Zeena, a woman who is constantly ill and demanding. When a young woman, Mattie Silver, comes to stay with them, Ethan finds himself drawn to her. Ethan and Mattie's relationship grows, and they eventually plan to run away together. However, their plans are thwarted when Zeena discovers their secret. In a desperate attempt to escape his unhappy life, Ethan and Mattie decide to commit suicide together. The novel ends with a tragic outcome, as Ethan and Mattie's plan fails and they are left to suffer the consequences of their actions. The novel is a powerful exploration of the human capacity for love and despair, and the consequences of making choices in life.

By Edith Wharton · First published 1911 · Genre: Realistic Fiction, Romance, Tragedy · 10 chapters · 34,978 words

First lines

The village lay under two feet of snow, with drifts at the windy corners. In a sky of iron the points of the Dipper hung like icicles and Orion flashed his cold fires. The moon had set, but the night was so transparent that the white house-fronts between the elms looked gray against the snow, clumps of bushes made black stains on it, and the basement windows of the church sent shafts of yellow light far across the endless undulations.

What this Textopian page supports

Ethan Frome is listed on Textopian as a novel by Edith Wharton, dated 1911 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Novel
Author: Edith Wharton
Date: 1911 CE
Language: English
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance, Tragedy, Literary Fiction
Length: 34,978 words
Structure: 10 chapters, 802 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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Similar titles

Genres

Realistic Fiction — Ethan Frome is a realistic fiction novel that follows the life of the protagonist, Ethan Frome, and his struggles with his marriage, his feelings for another woman, and his difficult life in a small New England town.
Romance — Ethan Frome is a romance novel that follows the love triangle between Ethan, his wife, and the woman he falls in love with, Mattie Silver.
Tragedy — Ethan Frome is a tragedy novel that follows the downfall of Ethan Frome due to his inability to make a decision between his wife and Mattie Silver, and the consequences of his actions.
Literary Fiction — Ethan Frome is a literary fiction novel that explores themes of love, loss, and regret through the use of symbolism and complex characters.