The Brave Escape of Edith Wharton

Gr 6—9—The Brave Escape begins with an explanation of the saying, "Keeping up with the Joneses." The term was coined during the 1800s to describe attempts at social climbing and as a direct reference to the family into which Edith Jones Wharton was born. This hook heightens the monumentality of the unconventional "escape" Wharton made from the rules of Gilded Age New York society into a writing career and a life of intellectualism. The narrative follows her from birth to death and continually highlights her struggle to reconcile society's expectations and her own upbringing with her lifestyle and career choices. Glimpses into her "imagining" sessions as a child and the heartache caused by a broken affair as a middle-aged woman create a vibrant and often endearing portrait of Wharton. Her writing underscores all, but just as much weight is given to describing her relationships, travels, and numerous homes. The target audience for a book of this scope and readability, however, appears to be quite far below the purview of the typical, mature Wharton reader. Black-and-white photographs and reproductions are included. A straightforward, sometimes charming title that may struggle to find an audience—Jill Heritage Maza, Greenwich High School, CT