The Fruit of the Tree

Name: The Fruit of the Tree
Author: Edith Wharton

The novel revolves around the story of John Amherst, a wealthy and influential man who owns a textile mill in a small New England town. He is known for his philanthropy and kindness towards his workers. However, when a worker is wrongly accused of murder, Amherst's sense of justice compels him to investigate the case, leading to a shocking revelation that changes everything.

By Edith Wharton · First published 1907 · Genre: Realism, Social Commentary, Romance · 43 chapters · 170,700 words

First lines

IN the surgical ward of the Hope Hospital at Hanaford, a nurse was bending over a young man whose bandaged right hand and arm lay stretched along the bed.

His head stirred uneasily, and slipping her arm behind him she effected a professional readjustment of the pillows. "Is that better?"

What this Textopian page supports

The Fruit of the Tree is listed on Textopian as a novel by Edith Wharton, dated 1907 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: 1907 CE
Language: English
Genres: Realism, Social Commentary, Romance, Tragedy
Length: 170,700 words
Structure: 43 chapters, 3,309 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for The Fruit of the Tree by Edith Wharton
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering The Fruit of the Tree?
How does this novel by Edith Wharton fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Realism first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Realism — The narrative is grounded in reality, focusing on the everyday experiences and struggles of its characters.
Social Commentary — The narrative critiques and explores societal norms and issues, particularly those related to class and labor rights.
Romance — The narrative includes a romantic subplot, though it is not the primary focus.
Tragedy — The narrative includes tragic elements, including character deaths and moral dilemmas.