Hermione Lee-Edith Wharton-Bookbits author interview

Edith Wharton was the first woman to win a Pulitzer Prize, a celebrated designer and a close friend of fellow novelist Henry James. Hermione Lee, who has previously written a biography of Virginia Woolf says Wharton was both chronicler and critic of life in the upper classes of New York City at the dawn of the 20th Century.

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[cranky1chick]

Thank so much for interviewing Professor Lee. I'm about to start this biography and just find it ironic that the very things she dislikes about the film version of "The Age of Innocence" and likes about "The House of Mirth" are the things that make it true to the novel (the opulence in the first; the sense of bullying in the latter). Still, her biography of Virginia Woolf was masterful and I expect this one of Ms. Wharton will be as well.

[writerly]

I am delighted you enjoyed it. She was a pleasure to interview, though a bit intimidating because she's just so damn brilliant!

[writerly]

You are most welcome! She is a pleasure to interview, though one of those people who is so smart as to be a bit intimidating.

[bruceok]

Hermione Lee's biography of Edith Wharton was outstanding. I was so eager to read it after reading her equally outstanding biography of Virginia Woolf.

I always thought Edith Wharton would have been unapproachable: uninteresting and intimidating. In fact, she must have been a hoot to be around. She was full of life.

[nika8765]

thats cool.

[rick101028]

Ok im sure none of you believe me...but edith wharton is my great great great great grandma er im not sure how many greats but yea...im related to her....if anyone cares lol.

[PuffLippy06]

Maybe Mrs Lee suggested it, but "The Custom of the Country" would be a great Wharton to start with. It examines - ruthlessly - Whartons idea of upward mobility & infiltration of "new money" through the vulgar "heroine" Undine Spragg. It was one of the few books that I had to put down at one point & go out for a walk... what she puts her characters through in that book!

[PuffLippy06]

Yes, the biography relays that. She mentions liking "the House of Mirth" film (which I did not...) and the two share a sort deliberate pacing in their subjects. The EW bio is LOADED with detail & thinking about the amount of work involved gave me vertigo. I *cough* reviewed it *cough* on Amazon under *cough* The Angel of Devasation ;)

[PuffLippy06]

Thanks very much for this interview! About to finish the biography & was hoping to find one of these. Love Hermione Lee...