The Age of Desire

The Age of Desire follows novelist Edith Wharton during a transformative period in Paris, as she embarks on a passionate affair with journalist Morton Fullerton. Her relationship with her longtime friend and secretary Anna Bahlmann becomes strained as Wharton pursues this liaison while navigating her loveless marriage. Set in the early 1900s, the novel moves between Paris and The Mount, Wharton's estate in Massachusetts. Through alternating perspectives of Edith and Anna, readers witness the complications of desire, duty, and loyalty in America's Gilded Age. The narrative tracks the personal and professional evolution of Wharton as she produces some of her most important works, including The House of Mirth and Ethan Frome. Her circle includes Henry James and other literary figures of the period, providing context for her artistic development. This biographical novel examines the price of passion and the constraints of societal expectations, particularly for women of the era. It raises questions about the conflict between artistic fulfillment and personal happiness, and the complex nature of female friendship.

Readers describe this biographical novel about Edith Wharton as a slow-paced account that focuses heavily on the author's midlife affair with Morton Fullerton. Many note the detailed historical research but find the narrative gets bogged down in repetitive scenes. Positive reviews highlight: - Rich period details of 1907-1910 Paris and New England - The complex friendship between Wharton and her secretary Anna Bahlmann - Incorporation of Wharton's actual letters and diary entries Common criticisms: - Too much focus on the romance rather than Wharton's literary work - Simplistic, romance novel-style writing - Lack of depth in character development - Slow pacing and repetitive scenes Ratings: Goodreads: 3.4/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 3.9/5 (180+ ratings) "More Harlequin than historical fiction," notes one Goodreads reviewer. Another adds: "The writing style doesn't do justice to Wharton's own masterful prose."

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🖋️ Though a work of fiction, the novel draws heavily from Edith Wharton's actual love letters and diaries, particularly those exchanged with her lover Morton Fullerton 📚 Author Jennie Fields spent five years researching Edith Wharton's life and the Belle Époque period in Paris before writing the novel 🏰 The book features detailed descriptions of The Mount, Wharton's estate in Lenox, Massachusetts, which she designed herself and considered her "first real home" 💕 The passionate affair between Edith Wharton and Morton Fullerton remained secret until 1977 when the sealed documents were finally made public ✍️ While the novel focuses on Wharton's mid-life awakening at age 45, she had already published several successful books by this time, including The House of Mirth