Summer

Wharton called this companion novel to Ethan Frome, "hot Ethan." The heroine, Charity Royall (unlike Ethan Frome), is determined to experience passion and engages in a tempestuous love affair with Lucius Harney, a young man who has drifted into the Berkshires during his college vacation. Eventually, Charity becomes pregnant. The novel reflects the easing of Wharton's stern moral judgements, and is one of the first novels to deal honestly with a young woman's sexual… (more)

Wharton called this companion novel to Ethan Frome, "hot Ethan." The heroine, Charity Royall (unlike Ethan Frome), is determined to experience passion and engages in a tempestuous love affair with Lucius Harney, a young man who has drifted into the Berkshires during his college vacation. Eventually, Charity becomes pregnant. The novel reflects the easing of Wharton's stern moral judgements, and is one of the first novels to deal honestly with a young woman's sexual awakening. The author stated of her own work, "I do not remember ever visualizing with more intensity the inner scene, or the creatures peopling it."