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Edith Newbold Jones Wharton
b. New York City, NY
January 24 (some sources say
23), 1862
(some sources say 1861)
d. St. Brice -
sous Forêt, France, August 11, 1937
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Edith "Pussy" Wharton was born into a wealthy New York family. Her
father George Frederic Jones, a gentlemen of leisure, and mother Lucretia
Stevens Rhinelander Jones become summer residents in Newport around 1850.
Edith spent most of her childhood in New York City (winters) and Newport
(summers).
The Jones’ long time summer residence, known as Pencraig, was built in
early 1860s. Edith lived here prior to family move to Europe due
to economic depression at the end of Civil War. They resided in Europe
from November 1866 to June 1872. Family returned to Newport for summer
season of 1872.
Edith’s early Newport days appear to be happy ones, her later days in Newport
differ. As a child she enjoyed riding her pony, playing on the family
property that gently sloped to Newport Harbor, and swimming and fishing
off the dock.
At the turn of the 20th century Jones’ property is owned by Sidney Webster.
Then spelled Pencraig, now Pen-Craig, the main house no longer exists.
The property has been subdivided into three homes, represented by #99 -
#101 - #103 Harrison Avenue.
In the summer of 1880, Edith meets Henry Leyden Stevens (b. 1859) in Newport.
He was the son of Marietta Reed, who had married the wealthy Paran Stevens.
Henry was known as a sporting enthusiast. His family estate was located
on what is now the Cherry & Webb portion of Bellevue Shopping Center.
A romance developed between Edith and Henry with speculation that an engagement
would be eminent. After much talk by society, it finally happened
two years later and was reported by the Newport Mercury on August 19, 1882,
"The engagement of Mr. Harry Stevens, only son of Mrs. Paran Stevens,
to Miss Edith, daughter of the late George F. Jones of New York, is announced."
By October the engagement was off. It has been suggested that Henry’s
mother, a society matron, was responsible in the abrupt end due to her
social concerns and financial interests. As the story goes, when
Henry turned twenty-five years of age or married - his father’s $1.25 million
estate would come into his possession. His mother needed to keep
the monies under her control - for her own benefit. This incident
may have haunted Edith for some time, she seemed shaken by it.
In time, Edith meets and marries a friend of her brother Harry who visited
Pencraig many times prior. Married Edward "Teddy" Wharton on
April 29, 1885. Divorced in 1913.
During the first three months of marriage, they lived with her mother,
either in the main house or a small cottage on the grounds, before moving
across the street to the other family owned house in the late summer of
1885. From June to February they live in Newport, the remainder of
year in Europe. Harry Stevens died that summer (1885).
After getting married, Edith realized the social duties/obligations of
Newport bored her. "Teddy" demonstrated social gaffe. One incident
that raised social eyebrows - late for a luncheon engagement, he hailed
and accepted ride in butcher cart up Bellevue Avenue.
She spent much time in her garden at the house known as "Pencraig Cottage"
or "Penn Craig Cottage." The couple lived here until 1893.
This house, eventually the Colonel Hoppin residence "Auton House," still
stands. The name has been changed to Quail Tree House, #100 Harrison Avenue.
In March of 1893, Wharton’s purchased house for $80,000. Some have
suggested Edith chose a location far enough from her mother, however, still
in Newport. This house is known as Land’s End.
Edith described it "the outside of the house was incurably ugly, but we
helped it to a certain dignity..." Almost immediately work commenced.
Ogden Codman, Jr. was brought into supervise the alteration, interior decoration
and landscape design.
The incorporated ideas of this house were the basis for the book, The Decoration
of Houses published in 1897. Written by Wharton in collaboration
with Codman, earned her her first royalty check.
Edith grew tired of Newport and the dampness of the air here. At
the turn of the 20th century Land’s End was sold. The Wharton’s moved
to Lenox, MA where their home "The Mount" was built. Afterwards,
Edith visited Newport occasionally. Land’s End still stands today at the
southern end of the southeast end of Ledge Road.
EDITH WHARTON: PUBLISHED REFERENCES TO NEWPORT
Verses. Newport,
R.I., C.E. Hammett, Jr., 1878. unsigned, privately published, it
appeared just before
Christmas. A
book of her poems, her first published work, Edith was 16 years old.
The Twilight of the God, a short play in her
The
Greater Inclination. New York, Scribner, 1899. The setting
is Newport.
The Age of Innocence. New York, London, Appleton, 1920.
Her most famous novel, some consider it her best work. Wharton
awarded Pulitzer Prize in 1921, the first time a woman received that prize
for a novel.
A Backward Glance. New York, London, Appleton, Century, 1934.
Her autobiography.
American novelist, poet and short story writer. Considered the most
celebrated American female author of her times. More than 50 books
to her credit, including travel books, historical novels and criticism.
Member of the National Institute of Arts and Letters, received Gold Medal
of the institute. Spends latter years in Europe, good friend of Henry James
[q.v.]. Returned to U.S. only once to receive an honorary doctorate
from Yale University in 1923 - the first woman to receive that honor.
Bibliography
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