The Letters by Edith Wharton (1937)

The novel revolves around the discovery of a bundle of intimate letters written by the recently deceased Mrs. Ashton to her husband's nephew, which reveals their illicit love affair. The story unfolds through the perspectives of various characters, including the nephew, his wife, and a family friend, as they grapple with the moral implications of the revelation and its impact on their relationships.

By Edith Wharton · First published 1937 · Genre: Epistolary, Drama, Historical Fiction · 7 chapters · 20,318 words

First lines

UP the long hill from the station at St. -Cloud, Lizzie West climbed in the cold spring sunshine. As she breasted the incline, she noticed the first waves of wistaria over courtyard railings and the high lights of new foliage against the walls of ivy-matted gardens; and she thought again, as she had thought a hundred times before, that she had never seen so beautiful a spring.

What this Textopian page supports

The Letters is listed on Textopian as a novella by Edith Wharton, dated 1937 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: 1937 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Epistolary, Drama, Historical Fiction, Romance, Psychological Fiction
• Length: 20,318 words
• Structure: 7 chapters, 253 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

Good citation fit

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

Similar titles

• A Cup Of Cold Water by Edith Wharton
• The Letter by Edith Wharton
• The Reckoning by Edith Wharton
• The Touchstone by Edith Wharton
• The Twilight Of The God by Edith Wharton
• A Meeting by Edith Wharton

Genres

• Epistolary — The narrative is primarily conveyed through written correspondence.
• Drama — The plot unfolds through interpersonal conflicts and emotional tension.
• Historical Fiction — The story is set in a specific historical period and context.
• Romance — Romantic relationships and love are central themes.

Tags

Romance · Epistolary Novel · Classic Literature · American Fiction · Early 20th Century · Social Commentary · Upper Class · Marriage · Infidelity · Love Triangle · Family Drama · Secrets

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