The Best Man by Edith Wharton (1908)

The story revolves around a wealthy and socially prominent family, the Lenoxes, who are preparing for their daughter May's wedding to Newland Archer, a young lawyer from a respectable family. However, Archer falls in love with May's cousin, Ellen Olenska, a beautiful and alluring woman who has returned to New York after a scandalous divorce in Europe.

By Edith Wharton · First published 1908 · Genre: Romance, Drama, Social Commentary · 6 chapters · 12,639 words

First lines

DUSK had fallen, and the circle of light shed by the lamp of Governor Mornway's writing-table just rescued from the surrounding dimness his own imposing bulk, thrown back in a deep chair in the lounging attitude habitual to him at that hour.

What this Textopian page supports

The Best Man is listed on Textopian as a novella by Edith Wharton, dated 1908 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: 1908 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Romance, Drama, Social Commentary
• Length: 12,639 words
• Structure: 6 chapters, 282 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for The Best Man 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 The Best Man?
• How does this novella by Edith Wharton fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
• Where does Romance first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

• The Valley Of Decision by Edith Wharton
• Wedding Day by Edith Nesbit
• Coming Home by Edith Wharton
• The Woman Haters by Joseph C. Lincoln
• Full Circle by Edith Wharton
• A Meeting by Edith Wharton

Genres

• Romance — The narrative primarily revolves around romantic relationships and their complexities.
• Drama — The story contains elements of conflict, tension, and emotional upheaval.
• Social Commentary — The narrative provides critique and observation of societal norms and expectations.

Tags

Romance · Marriage · Social Class · Wealth · Family · Relationships · Society · Etiquette · Manners · Tradition · Love Triangle · Friendship

Contents

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

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