Crucial Instances by Edith Wharton

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Author Wharton, Edith, 1862-1937
Title Crucial Instances
Note Reading ease score: 79.0 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.
Contents The Duchess at prayer -- The angel at the grave -- The recovery -- "Copy": a dialogue -- The Rembrandt -- The moving finger -- The confessional.
Credits Produced by Charles Aldarondo, Tiffany Vergon, William
Flis, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team
HTM version by Chuck Greif
Summary "Crucial Instances" by Edith Wharton is a collection of short stories written during the late 19th century. The work delves into themes of love, loss, and existential contemplation, often set against the backdrop of the upper-class society that Wharton was known for critiquing. The opening story, "The Duchess at Prayer," introduces us to the tragic and complex figure of Duchess Violante, exploring the intermingling of art, devotion, and the shadows of personal anguish in her life. The opening of "Crucial Instances" presents a richly descriptive setting within an old Italian villa, where the narrator encounters an elderly guide. As they explore the faded grandeur of the Duchess's apartment, including a chilling statue of the Duchess in prayer, a sense of mystery unfolds. The old man hints at a dark history involving the statue, which once bore a serene visage but has now twisted into a depiction of horror. Through the old man's fragmented memories, we learn of the Duchess's once-vibrant spirit, her isolation, and how she may have succumbed to despair, leading to the statue's chilling transformation. The tone is laced with a sense of foreboding and intrigue, setting the stage for Wharton's exploration of deeper psychological themes. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Language English
LoC Class PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature
Subject Short stories, American
Subject American fiction -- 19th century
Category Text
EBook-No. 7516
Release Date
Most Recently Updated Jan 26, 2021
Copyright Status Public domain in the USA.
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