65 pages • 2 hours read
Summer
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Book Brief
290
Novel • Fiction
New England • Early 20th Century
1917
YA
16+ years
Super Short Summary
Summer by Edith Wharton is set in rural New England and follows Charity, a young woman desperate to escape her small town. She secures a job at the local library and meets Lucius Harney, a New York architect, leading to a romantic affair. Lucius ultimately chooses another woman, and Charity, pregnant and despondent, returns to her adoptive father, who marries her to preserve her reputation. The novel addresses themes such as female sexual passion and the societal issues surrounding unwed pregnancies from a feminine perspective.
Melancholic
Bittersweet
Contemplative
Romantic
Emotional
Reviews & Readership
16,956 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Edith Wharton's Summer is celebrated for its evocative prose and insightful exploration of societal norms, yet some criticize its pacing and predictability. Readers commend the complex characters and Wharton's ability to depict the constraints on women's lives. However, the bleakness of the narrative can be off-putting for some. Overall, it's a poignant, thought-provoking read.
Who Should Read Summer?
Readers of Edith Wharton's Summer will enjoy nuanced explorations of complex characters, social constraints, and personal desires. Similar to fans of Thomas Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbervilles and Kate Chopin's The Awakening, these readers appreciate richly detailed settings and themes of feminine independence and societal critique.
16,956 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Lawyer Royall
Lawyer Royall
A well-educated lawyer in North Dormer who adopted Charity as a child after her parents' criminal activities. He sometimes drinks excessively and holds a complex, evolving relationship with Charity.
Lucius Harney
Lucius Harney
A handsome, young architect from New York City who visits North Dormer to study old houses. He forms a significant connection with Charity throughout his stay.
Miss Hatchard
Miss Hatchard
An elderly spinster who is the great-niece of the founder of North Dormer’s library, she employs Charity part-time at the library at Lawyer Royall's request.
Ally Hawes
Ally Hawes
A loyal friend to Charity and a seamstress who embodies small-town values. She is also the sister of Julia Hawes and conveys significant news to Charity.
Julia Hawes
Julia Hawes
A woman from North Dormer known for her troubled past, she eventually moves to the city of Nettleton to start a new life.
Annabelle Balch
Annabelle Balch
A character from a privileged background in Springfield, she is engaged to Lucius Harney and represents the life that contrasts with Charity's.
290
Novel • Fiction
New England • Early 20th Century
1917
YA
16+ years
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