Ethan Frome (Signet Classics)

thankful i got it on sale here bec it was required at my college, quick nice read

A novel written at the beginning of last century about a man seen every day in town, looking defeated, discouraged, and with no zest for life. Nobody wants to talk about him, and only mention is made that his life is a tragedy. Finally, facts unfold and we discover that Ethan was married to a dominating woman, Zeeda, and fell in love with Mattie, a relative of Zeeda's who went to live with them to help her because "she could do nothing". The decisions made by each of these 3 characters will play a significant role in this tragedy. It is a tragic romantic story, and although it is so depressing, I enjoyed it because it is very well written.

I thoroughly enjoy reading this novel. It is one of the few that I have read more than once. It is short, but it is dynamic. One can read it in an afternoon. The main character is such a pitiful ruin of a man. He had so much potential, but was trapped by family obligations and his strong sense of duty to a dying farm and a cold, unfeeling wife. His last chance for love is destroyed when his selfish, bitter wife decides out of jealousy and revenge to send Ethan's true love away. The lovers decide to die together and even that plan goes awry when the sled they are on does not hit the target properly. The outcome is devastating and heartbreaking. Ethan is even more trapped after the accident and his lover becomes worse than his wife ever was. This story is wonderfully written. It is a story within a story and is a must read for anyone. One can not help but get lost in Ms. Wharton's sad tale. Perhaps this particular story is a bit autobiographical if one chooses to read about Ms. Wharton's life. She, too, lost at love. Look for lots of symbolism in the setting and in her descriptions.

Although a thoroughly well written and nostalgic book, the story is depressing to the uttermost. The story of a triangular love has the most ironic of endings with many unexpected and sad moments along the way. I tell my students that they need a sharp razor blade when reading the book, so that when the depression overwhelms them, they will not make a jagged cut. Perhaps the author is giving us a glimpse into her own ultimately failed marriage as she records the quest of love by the protagonist who is married to a shrew who is a bitter woman. His awkwardness and slowness to speak to his desire adds to the suspense and to the eventual loss of opportunity. This is a frame story, with a narrator who begins and ends the tale, being a traveler who inquires of the strange man he encountered, the one with the strange, deformed limp. The reader will not so much ENJOY this novel as they will come to APPRECIATE its art. Edith Wharton is a master story teller, but have a DVD of a very funny comedy available to cheer you up when you finish this short novel.

The writing style was very good. It was just the story that left you feeling down and depressed. The characters lives were so unfulfilled.

What I loved about this book was the beautiful writing. The descriptions make you feel like you are there in the village. The story of Ethan and two women in his life is heartbreaking. The end was surprising.

Very nice book. A gift. Nicely wrapped.

I first heard about Ethan Frome when reading the Divine Feud: a biography of Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. Apparently, Bette Davis spent a lifetime trying to get the story filmed. So I bought Ethan Frome and read it. It is a novella written by Edith Wharton. Some say that the story was loosely based on her own personal relationships at the time. Whatever the genesis of the story, it is haunting. It stayed with me for a few days. Wharton creates a strong atmosphere, vivid characters and a sense of doom. There are many themes in the story I think: the overwhelming one for me is the hopelessness of the very poor and the tyranny of fate. Fate however can of course be the result of many decisions made along the way, those decisions which lead to hoplessness are the ones which should truly be lamented.

NICKEL

I've been loving the Penguin English Library editions.. because they're floppy paperbacks ( so no fear of cracking the spine) with really cute covers. And I've been waiting to buy Ethan Frome in this edition and finally ordered it when the price came down. The book was in great condition, no damages at all and it was delivered on time.

イーディス･ウォートンというと、19世紀後半、20世紀前半のニュー･ヨークにおいてまだ「上流階級」などとくくって呼ばれる社会について著した『エイジ･オブ･イノセンス』、『歓楽の家』や『カスタム･オブ･ザ･カントリー』などが有名である。 本著の舞台は冬のマセチューセッツの田舎。農業を営む寡黙の老人、イーサン･フロームについての比較的短い話である。建築関係の仕事上静かな農村にやってきた語り手がホーソーンの『緋文字』と同様のスタイルでイーサン･フロームの過去を推測を交えて描いてゆくものだ。 舞台も登場人物の階級もいつものウォートンとは異なっているので少々驚かれる方もいらっしゃるかもしれない。しかし、ウォートンの全作品に見られる育ちやそれに伴う運命に必死で立ち向かいながらも最終的には完全に打ち勝つことができない過程が非常によく出ている。やはり作者は場所を移しても変わらないものだなと思う。 アメリカの高校で大半のアメリカ人が読むこの作品、もしよろしければ、「暑いイーサン」と呼ばれる『サマー』と併せてお読みください。

I first read this years ago and the character and aura of the book has been part of my life. Reading it again reminds me how astute, insightful and brilliant Edith Wharton is. A joy!

Una hermosa novela. Vale la pena leerla.