Full Circle by Edith Wharton (1902)
The novel revolves around the theme of social class and the constraints it imposes on individuals. The story follows a young woman who is forced to marry a wealthy man to secure her family's financial future, but she soon finds herself trapped in a loveless marriage. As she navigates her new life, she begins to realize that her husband's wealth and status come at a great cost to her personal freedom and happiness.
By Edith Wharton · First published 1902 · Genre: Fiction, Drama, Romance · 4 chapters · 12,012 words
First lines
GEOFFREY BETTON woke rather late -- so late that the winter sunlight sliding across his warm red carpet struck his eyes as he turned on the pillow.
Strett, the valet, had been in, drawn the bath in the adjoining dressing-room, placed the crystal and silver cigarette-box at his side, put a match to the fire, and thrown open the windows to the bright morning air. It brought in, on the glitter of sun, all the shrill crisp morning noises -- those piercing notes of the American thoroughfare that seem to take a sharper vibration from the clearness of the medium through which they pass.
What this Textopian page supports
Full Circle is listed on Textopian as a novella by Edith Wharton, dated 1902 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novella
- Author: Edith Wharton
- Date: 1902 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fiction, Drama, Romance, Social Critique
- Length: 12,012 words
- Structure: 4 chapters, 227 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Full Circle by Edith Wharton
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Full Circle?
- How does this novella by Edith Wharton fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Long Run by Edith Wharton
- Coming Home by Edith Wharton
- The Quicksand by Edith Wharton
- The Valley Of Decision by Edith Wharton
- The Touchstone by Edith Wharton
- The Mission Of Jane by Edith Wharton
Genres
- Fiction — The narrative is a constructed story, not based on real events.
- Drama — The narrative contains conflict and emotional tension.
- Romance — The narrative includes elements of love and relationships.
- Social Critique — The narrative critiques societal norms and expectations.
Tags
Romance · Novel · Classic · Literary Fiction · American Literature · Early 20th Century · Social Class · Marriage · Infidelity · Adultery · Family Drama · Relationships