The Touchstone

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Wharton, Edith, 1862-1937

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"The Touchstone" by Edith Wharton is a novel written in the late 19th century. The narrative centers around Glennard, a man grappling with personal aspirations and the burdens of his past relationships, particularly that of Margaret Aubyn, a renowned writer. As Glennard navigates his regrets and affection for two significant women-Margaret, whom he failed to love despite her profound attachment to him, and Alexa Trent, a woman he desires but feels unworthy of-he faces a moral crisis when he contemplates publishing Margaret's private letters after her death. The opening of the novel establishes Glennard's internal struggles as he reflects on his life while engaging in mundane activities at a club. He recalls his complex relationship with Margaret, whose letters he possesses but is uncertain about using publicly. The emotional weight of their past, coupled with his current feelings for Alexa, sets a profound backdrop as Glennard wrestles with guilt and the societal pressures of success. Various interactions introduce us to the world Glennard inhabits, filled with superficial camaraderie among men and women who navigate love and ambition within societal expectations. This initial portion effectively foreshadows Glennard's moral dilemmas, illuminating themes of ambition, regret, and the delicate nature of human relationships. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Credits:

Produced by Judith Boss, and David Widger

Notes:

Reading ease score: 71.7 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.

Wikipedia page about this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Touchstone_(novella)

Release date is 1995-05-01