The Bolted Door by Edith Wharton

The story revolves around a woman who becomes trapped in her husband's country house during a severe snowstorm. As the storm intensifies, she begins to feel increasingly isolated and anxious, leading to a dramatic confrontation with her husband that exposes the underlying tensions in their marriage. Through this narrative, the author explores themes of marital discord, emotional repression, and the constraints placed on women during the early 20th century.

By Edith Wharton · First published 1911 · Genre: Mystery, Psychological Fiction, Gothic Fiction · 7 chapters · 21,920 words

First lines

HUBERT GRANICE, pacing the length of his pleasant lamp-lit library, paused to compare his watch with the clock on the chimney-piece.

Three minutes to eight.

What this Textopian page supports

The Bolted Door 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: Mystery, Psychological Fiction, Gothic Fiction, Drama
• Length: 21,920 words
• Structure: 7 chapters, 348 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for The Bolted Door 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 Bolted Door?
• How does this novel by Edith Wharton fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
• Where does Mystery first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

• The Wives Of The Dead by Nathaniel Hawthorne
• The Tomb by Guy De Maupassant
• The House Of The Dead Hand Stories by Edith Wharton
• The House Of The Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne
• The Grave by David Park Barnitz
• A Dirge In Gray by Edith Nesbit

Genres

• Mystery — The narrative revolves around a man's investigation into a friend's sudden disappearance, creating a suspenseful atmosphere.
• Psychological Fiction — The story delves into the mental state of the protagonist, exploring themes of guilt, fear, and paranoia.
• Gothic Fiction — The narrative employs elements of horror and death, and is set in a gloomy, haunting atmosphere.
• Drama — The narrative is characterized by emotional conflicts and intense interactions between characters.

Tags

Gothic Fiction · Mystery · Suspense · Thriller · Romance · Tragedy · Family Drama · Psychological Insight · Social Commentary · Dark Atmosphere · Isolation · Confinement

Contents

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

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