The Pelican by Edith Wharton (1912)
The story revolves around a widow, Mrs. Marvell, who lives with her son, Lorry, in a small cottage near the sea. She is struggling financially and emotionally after her husband's death. The arrival of a mysterious and charismatic stranger, Rouvier, sets off a chain of events that exposes the dark secrets and desires of the characters.
By Edith Wharton · First published 1912 · Genre: Realism, Drama, Social Critique · 10,220 words
First lines
She was very pretty when I first knew her, with the sweet straight nose and short upper lip of the cameo-brooch divinity, humanized by a dimple that flowered in her cheek whenever anything was said possessing the outward attributes of humor without its intrinsic quality. For the dear lady was providentially deficient in humor: the least hint of the real thing clouded her lovely eye like the hovering shadow of an algebraic problem.
What this Textopian page supports
The Pelican is listed on Textopian as a novella by Edith Wharton, dated 1912 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: 1912 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Realism, Drama, Social Critique
- Length: 10,220 words
- Structure: 1 section, 142 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Pelican 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 Pelican?
- How does this novella by Edith Wharton fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Realism first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Touchstone by Edith Wharton
- Coming Home by Edith Wharton
- The Blond Beast by Edith Wharton
- Full Circle by Edith Wharton
- Life And Gabriella by Ellen Glasgow
- A Coward by Edith Wharton
Genres
- Realism — The narrative is grounded in reality, focusing on everyday experiences and social dynamics.
- Drama — The narrative is characterized by emotional and interpersonal conflicts.
- Social Critique — The narrative critiques societal norms and expectations.
Tags
Novel · American Literature · 20th Century · Social Commentary · Psychological Fiction · Family Drama · Marriage · Infidelity · Adultery · Deception · Secrets · Upper Class