Roman Fever and Other Stories

By Edith Wharton

Book Overview

A side from her Pulitzer Prize-winning talent as a novel writer, Edith Wharton also distinguished herself as a short story writer, publishing more than seventy-two stories in ten volumes during her lifetime. The best of her short fiction is collected here in Roman Fever and Other Stories. From her picture of erotic love and illegitimacy in the title story to her exploration of the aftermath of divorce detailed in "Souls Belated" and "The Last Asset," Wharton shows her usual skill "in dissecting the elements of emotional subtleties, moral ambiguities, and the implications of social restrictions," as Cynthia Griffin Wolff writes in her introduction. Roman Fever and Other Stories is a surprisingly contemporary volume of stories by one of our most enduring writers.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0684829908
• ISBN13: 9780684829906
• Release Date: June 1997
• Publisher: Scribner Book Company
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.67 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.2" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Excellent

There is nothing much you can say about a classic. A classic is a classic for a reason. Edith Wharton is undeniably one of the best American writers and this book of short stories is another proof of it. It is a mark of a true talent to be able in a matter of 20-25 pages to reveal both deep nature of characters and expose society follies. Each story is a masterpiece which leaves you with a deeper understanding of suffocating restrictions of 19th century America and complexities of human nature. This book is a must read for anyone who appreciates quality literature.

Roman Fever burns bright

This short story is wonderfully complex and intriguing. Although it uses the late nineteenth century language, it is easy to understand and hard to put down until the end. Wonderful read for women looking for a motivational power-strive.

Wharton subtletly uses setting as symbolism

I had to read "Roman Fever" for an english class, and it was a very good story! The author describes the scenery & events around the characters, which makes it richer, but when you go back to analyze it, you realize that he setting & buildings & even other people in it are actually being used as foreshadowing symbolism. It's very well-written and multi-layered.