Shari Benstock (1944–2015)

There are some vague spoilers here—nothing specific, but about the general trend of the narrative.

This is only the second Wharton novel I’ve read, but I suspect it may her finest work. The best word I can think of is “immersive”—there is depth to the characters, and more than that, every relationship was layered with motives, restraints, and expectations. I was absorbed. Tension permeates Lily’s world, and the more time you spend there, the more you see the peril at every turn. show more Any single decision has the potential to be The Moment when Lily’s life unalterably changes, and we watch these changes accumulate. There’s no twist or turn that isn’t, in some way, Lily’s doing. Lily herself is both exasperating and heartbreakingly real, which makes her slow unraveling all the more powerful.

I will say, it drags a bit in Part Two; it starts to feel like Lily will just continue along an interminable line of bad decisions. But it regains its momentum, and the full development of Lily’s character makes the closing chapters all the more powerful.

By the way, one real surprise was Rosedale. The anti-Semitism in both Wharton’s descriptions and Lily’s judgments (as well as those of New York society) were troubling, echoing the casual bigotry I noticed in The Age of Innocence. But he turned out to be one of the most complex, real, unexpectedly fascinating characters I’ve come across in a long time.

The tragedy of the novel is no surprise, of course. But more than a personal story, it’s a powerful critique of the society itself: the cruelty of social hierarchies, the rigidity of class boundaries, and the impossible expectations imposed on women. Wharton is skillful in capturing it all, and in developing an engaging story of it. show less

An important piece of recovery work in feminist scholarship. A bit dated now but still loaded with interesting details about nearly forgotten writers and a fascinating era in English-language literature.

While I can see that this is a good piece of Restoration literature, I still hate the setting, characters and social constructs.
I just can't get into it.

From School Library Journal: "Relying on newly available materials from the Wharton archives, Benstock (Women of the Left Bank, LJ 11/15/86) has drawn a compelling portrait of Henry James's ``angel of devastation.'' In rich and sometimes tedious detail, the author traces the development of Wharton's private life and its impact on her public persona. This study provides greater insight than previous biographies into Wharton's failed marriage, her affair with Morton Fullerton, her guilt over show more her childlessness, and her intimate relationship with Henry James. The Wharton who emerges is a highly energetic writer for whom sexuality, passion, and the roles of women in society are central to life and art. Filled with engaging social history and literary criticism, Benstock's work challenges and complements R.W.B. Lewis's Edith Wharton (1975). This is first-rate literary biography. Highly recommended." show less