A Motor-Flight Through France

"A Motor-Flight Through France" by Edith Wharton is a travel narrative written in the early 20th century. The book chronicles the journey of the author and her companions as they explore the picturesque landscapes, towns, and cultural heritage of France by motor vehicle, offering rich descriptions and insights into both the scenery and historical contexts of the locations they visit. At the start of the narrative, Wharton embarks on a motor trip from Boulogne to Amiens, delighting in the freedom that the motor car offers compared to traditional train travel. She vividly describes the charming countryside, with its rolling hills, verdant fields, and quaint villages, highlighting the architectural nuances of various towns. The opening encapsulates her reflections on the beauty of both the landscape and the historical significance of sites, particularly focusing on the cathedral of Amiens, which captivates her alongside the simpler, intimate aspects of the towns they encounter. These observations set the tone for an exploration that blends travelogue, art critique, and personal reflection. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Edith Newbold Wharton was an American writer and designer. Wharton drew upon her insider's knowledge of the upper-class New York "aristocracy" to portray, realistically, the lives and morals of the Gilded Age. In 1921, she became the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction, for her novel, The Age of Innocence. She was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame, in 1996. Her other well-known works are The House of Mirth, the novella Ethan Frome, and several notable ghost stories.