Souls Belated by Edith Wharton

The novel explores the complex and intense relationship between two cousins, Orpheus Dusk and Lydia Tillotson, who are bound together by a deep emotional connection that transcends conventional familial ties. The story unfolds against the backdrop of a decaying aristocratic society in upstate New York during the late 19th century.

By Edith Wharton · First published 1916 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Romance, Drama · 5 chapters · 14,215 words

First lines

Their railway-carriage had been full when the train left Bologna; but at the first station beyond Milan their only remaining companion -- a courtly person who ate garlic out of a carpet-bag -- had left his crumb-strewn seat with a bow.

Lydia's eye regretfully followed the shiny broadcloth of his retreating back till it lost itself in the cloud of touts and cab-drivers hanging about the station; then she glanced across at Gannett and caught the same regret in his look. They were both sorry to be alone.

What this Textopian page supports

Souls Belated is listed on Textopian as a novel by Edith Wharton, dated 1916 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: 1916 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Literary Fiction, Romance, Drama, Psychological Fiction
• Length: 14,215 words
• Structure: 5 chapters, 307 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for Souls Belated 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 Souls Belated?
• How does this novel by Edith Wharton fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
• Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

• The Long Run by Edith Wharton
• The Mission Of Jane by Edith Wharton
• The Touchstone by Edith Wharton
• The Pretext by Edith Wharton
• The Egoists by Edith Nesbit
• The Coquette by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Genres

• Literary Fiction — The narrative focuses on character development, moral dilemmas, and social commentary.
• Romance — The plot revolves around the romantic relationship between the two main characters.
• Drama — The narrative is filled with emotional conflicts and tensions.
• Psychological Fiction — The narrative delves into the psychological and emotional states of the characters.

Tags

Romance · Novel · Classic · Literary Fiction · American Literature · Social Class · Marriage · Love Triangle · Family Drama · Society Life · Upper Class · Wealth

Contents

• CHAPTER I
• CHAPTER II
• CHAPTER III
• CHAPTER IV
• CHAPTER V

More by Edith Wharton

• Atrophy (1937)
• A Bottle of Perrier (1924)
• Mr. Jones (1924)
• After Holbein (1924)
• Dieu D'Amour (1924)
• The Refugees (1924)
• The Spark (1924)
• The Old Maid (1924)
• All works by Edith Wharton