A short story with a punch, ‘Madame de Treymes’ follows lovelorn John Durham as he travels to France to court his old love, Fanny Frisbee. While Fanny is separated from her husband, she is still married, and it looks unlikely that he’ll agree to a divorce. Can Fanny’s sister-in-law, the eponymous ‘Madame de Treymes’ help the course of true love? An intriguing read, this book might sound like a simple romance, but there are darker themes at work. Ideal for those who already admire Wharton’s work and those just getting to know her.
Edith Wharton (1862 – 1937) was an American designer and novelist. Born in an era when the highest ambition a woman could aspire to was a good marriage, Wharton went on to become one of America’s most celebrated authors. During her career, she wrote over 40 books, using her wealthy upbringing to bring authenticity and detail to stories about the upper classes. She moved to France in 1923, where she continued to write until her death.