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“I’m afraid I am an incorrigible life-lover & life-wonderer & adventurer.” – Edith Wharton

EDITH WHARTON (w.t.) takes a journey into the world of a literary genius and prolific cosmopolitan writer. Venturing beyond traditional, limited and mostly black-and-white portraits of the Gilded Age novelist, this feature-length documentary will explore the writer’s complexity as an astute critic, adventurous spirit, and trailblazer in literature and life.

In a life that spanned a transformative period in American history, Edith Wharton (1862-1937) penned over 40 books over four decades, leaving an indelible mark. Today she is best known for classics like The House of Mirth (1905) and The Age of Innocence (1920), which depict the circumscribed Gilded Age New York society she knew so well. But in other works and her own life, she defied convention, becoming one of her era’s most celebrated writers, and extending her legacy far beyond these portrayals.

Using the writer’s own words — in a voice that is engaging, relatable and wry — this documentary will reveal these different Whartons. Not merely a chronicler of a bygone era, a complex figure emerges in diverse fictions, influential writings on architecture and design, World War I dispatches, and intimate autobiographical accounts and letters. From her early days as a curious child to her bold travels, Wharton develops into a dynamic, independent, and contradictory woman.

The documentary traces Wharton’s history through her travels from turn-of-the-century New York and the rugged landscapes of New England to the gardens of Italy, wartime Paris, and even the deserts of Morocco. Filming in original locations and using historical materials (some colorized) as well as creative animation of archival imagery will bring Wharton’s world to life.

Period artworks, illustrations and styles will highlight the radical changes in society and representations of women from the late nineteenth century to the start of World War II while also emphasizing the subjective nature of Wharton’s experiences. Insights from contemporary novelists, scholars, and journalists will also tie the past to the present, showing how Wharton’s narratives resonate with the complexities of our current moment.

 

Research support for this project provided by