Publisher's Synopsis
The Valley of Decision is a novel written by Edith Wharton that was first published in 1902. The story is set in the late 19th century in the industrial city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The book follows the lives of two families, the Scotts and the Gwynnes, who are from different social classes. The Scotts are wealthy industrialists who own a steel mill, while the Gwynnes are a poor family who work in the mill.The novel explores themes of social class, love, and duty. The main character, Mary Gwynne, falls in love with Paul Scott, the son of the wealthy industrialist. However, their love is forbidden because of their different social classes. Mary is torn between her love for Paul and her duty to her family, who are struggling to survive.As the story progresses, the Scotts and the Gwynnes become more intertwined, and their lives become increasingly complicated. The novel depicts the harsh realities of life in the industrial city, including the dangerous working conditions in the steel mill and the struggles of the working-class families.The Valley of Decision is a poignant and thought-provoking novel that explores the complexities of love and social class in a rapidly changing world. Edith Wharton's masterful storytelling and vivid descriptions bring the characters and the setting to life, making this a timeless classic that continues to resonate with readers today.At length the moon rose, and toward midnight Odo, spurring out of a dark glen, found himself at the opening of the valley of Donnaz. A cold radiance bathed the familiar pastures, the houses of the village along the stream, and the turrets and crenellations of the castle at the head of the gorge. The air was bitter, and the horses' hoofs struck sharply on the road as they trotted past the slumbering houses and halted at the gateway through which Odo had first been carried as a sleepy child.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.