The Choice 1916

"The Choice" by Edith Wharton is a novel written during the early 20th century. The book explores complex themes of love, sacrifice, and moral dilemmas, focusing on the struggles of its characters within the societal constraints of their time. Wharton's narrative offers a poignant examination of personal choices and relational dynamics, set against a backdrop of wealth and privilege. The story revolves around Isabel Stilling, caught in a tumultuous marriage with her husband Cobham, who recklessly gambles away both their fortunes and his mother's savings. Complicating matters further, Isabel's relationship with Austin Wrayford grows deeper, leading her to confront the emotional turmoil of her situation. As tensions rise, a fateful night unfolds near a lake, culminating in a tragic accident that forces Isabel to reckon with her choices. The novel poignantly captures the weight of unspoken desires and the sacrifices one must make in the name of love and loyalty, ultimately leading to a heartbreaking conclusion. (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.