A Son at the Front

By Edith Wharton

Book Overview

Edith Wharton's powerful novel, "A Son at the Front," explores the profound impact of World War I on both the battlefield and the home front. Set against the backdrop of Paris, the story delves into the anxieties and hopes of American expatriates living abroad during a time of global conflict. At its heart, "A Son at the Front" is a poignant examination of a father-son relationship strained by war. The novel subtly captures the universal experience of loss and the enduring power of familial love amid tragedy. Wharton, a master of literary fiction, paints a vivid portrait of a society grappling with immense change and personal sacrifice. This meticulously prepared print edition offers a timeless exploration of war's human cost.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

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• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1023598426
• ISBN13: 9781023598422
• Release Date: March 2025
• Publisher: Anson Street Press
• Length: 252 Pages
• Weight: 1.17 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.1" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

War and the family

"A Son at the Front," a novel by Edith Wharton, has been republished with an introduction by Shari Benstock. Benstock notes that the novel was serialized from 1922 to 1923 and that an edition was published by Charles Scribner's Sons in 1923. The novel tells the story of John Campton, an American portrait painter who lives in France. Campton's son George, because he was born in France, is subject to mobilization in the French army for World War I. As the story unfolds we see the war's impact on father and son, as well as on George's mother (from whom Campton is divorced) and her current husband, and on other individuals. Wharton poignantly portrays the anguish and challenges faced by the families of soldiers during wartime. She shows how the horror and violence of war touches even those who are far from the front lines. Yes, I felt that the story briefly dragged at times and that some of the minor characters could have been better drawn, but the novel is overall interesting and at times profoundly moving. I was particularly intrigued by the fact that George is the child not of a happy, saccharine couple, but of a divorced couple who are forced to come together over their common concern in time of war. It is in the drama involving George's parents and stepfather where the book often has its most powerful edge. This book offers an interesting look at the role of soldier's families, and also of the arts community, during wartime. Also significant is Wharton's look at the importance of personal letters as a communication medium during war. More than eighty years after its initial publication, and with the United States once more at war, "A Son at the Front" remains a relevant work of literature by one of America's most noteworthy novelists.