Seven short stories from the prolific Pulitzer Prize-winning American novelist Edith Wharton. With a wide variety of protagonists â a cloistered monk to a struggling artist to a Governor to a New England lawyerâs wife â she is flexing her writing muscles and trying on personas. Includes âThe Last Assetâ, âIn Trustâ, âThe Pretextâ, âThe Verdictâ, âThe Pot-Boilerâ, and âThe Best Manâ. In the title story, the reader learns that the âhermit,â as a young boy, witnessed the killing of his parents and sister during an attack on his town. As a result of his trauma, he has retreated into isolation until he meets a âwild womanâ who comes to live nearby. Highly recommended when you want something short but stimulating between longer reads!