“Through the stillness they heard the church clock striking five. "Oh, Ethan, it's time!" she cried. He drew her back to him. "Time for what? You don't suppose I'm going to leave you now?" "If I missed my train where'd I go?" "Where are you going if you catch it?" She stood silent, her hands lying cold and relaxed in his. "What's the good of either of us going anywheres without the other one now?" he said.”
Ethan Frome is a poignant story that delves into the lives of its characters in a small, isolated community. The narrative focuses on the complex relationship between Ethan, a local blacksmith, and his wife Zeena, who is bedridden due to an injury. The story unfolds against the backdrop of a harsh New England winter, with the characters' lives intertwining with those of Zeena's cousin, Mattie, who arrives in the town. more
American novelist known for her delicate psychological portrayals and profound social insights. Edith Wharton came from a wealthy New York family and her works mainly reflect the American society at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. Her representative works include 'The Age of Innocence' and 'The House of Mirth' among others. more
“.. And you want to ‘reform’ people like that when dynamite is so cheap?”
“They had something to do. They could escape from themselves.”
“I wonder if the small town isn’t, with some lovely exceptions, a social appendix?”