The Fruit of the Tree

The Fruit of the Tree is a novel written by Edith Wharton, an American novelist and short story writer. The book was first published in 1907 and is set in the fictional town of Hanaford, which is based on Lenox, Massachusetts, where Wharton had a home. The story follows the lives of three main characters: John Amherst, a young doctor who has taken over the management of a textile mill in Hanaford; Bessy Westmore, a wealthy woman who is suffering from a debilitating illness; and Justine Brent, a nurse who comes to work for Bessy and becomes involved in a love triangle with John.The novel explores themes of social class, industrialization, and the struggle for women's rights. Wharton uses the story to critique the harsh working conditions in the textile mills of the time, as well as the class divide between the wealthy and the working class. She also portrays the limitations placed on women in society, particularly in terms of their ability to work and support themselves.Overall, The Fruit of the Tree is a thought-provoking and engaging novel that offers a glimpse into the social and economic issues of early 20th century America.1914. Wharton, American author, is best known for her stories and ironic novels about upper class people. Wharton's central subjects were the conflict between social and individual fulfillment, repressed sexuality, and the manners of old families and the nouveau riche, who had made their fortunes in more recent years. Among her numerous novels, short stories, and travel writings are The House of Mirth, Ethan Frome, and the Pulitzer prize-winning Age of Innocence. The Fruit of the Tree focuses on Justine Brent, a professional nurse who is called upon to attend her childhood friend Bessy Westmore, a rich textile mill owner left paralyzed by a riding accident. When Bessy begs to be released from a life of intense pain and suffering, Justine debates the moral issues and makes the difficult choice to administer a lethal dose of morphine. After Bessy dies, Justine falls in love with her widowed husband and joins him in his efforts to create better conditions for the factory workers. Questions surrounding Bessy's death, however, haunt their relationship, and Justine learns firsthand the tragic consequences of social idealism and reform. Highly controversial at the time of its publication the book, and its themes, are still relevant to today's reader. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.