Summer (Wharton novel)

Summer is a novella written by Edith Wharton, published in 1917. It is often considered a companion piece to her more famous novel, Ethan Frome, exploring similar themes of social constraints, poverty, and repressed desires in rural New England. However, Summer offers a more explicitly sexual and emotionally complex narrative than Ethan Frome.

The story centers around Charity Royall, a young woman living in the isolated and impoverished village of North Dormer. She is the ward of Lawyer Royall, a man of ambiguous and troubled character. Charity feels trapped by the limitations of her environment and yearns for a life beyond North Dormer.

Her life is disrupted by the arrival of Lucius Harney, a young architect who is spending the summer in the area to study local architectural styles. Charity and Lucius begin a passionate affair, which offers Charity a glimpse of a more sophisticated and fulfilling existence. Lucius represents opportunity and escape, promising to take her away from North Dormer.

However, their relationship is complicated by social expectations and the realities of their different social classes. Lucius is from a wealthier background and intends to return to his life in the city, while Charity is tied to North Dormer and her ambiguous relationship with Lawyer Royall.

The narrative explores themes of social class, sexual awakening, the limitations placed upon women in rural communities, and the complexities of love and desire. Charity's journey is one of self-discovery, as she grapples with her feelings for Lucius, her resentment towards North Dormer, and her complicated relationship with Lawyer Royall. The ending of the novel presents Charity with difficult choices and forces her to confront the consequences of her actions and the realities of her situation. While Summer is a shorter and less widely read work than some of Wharton's other novels, it is a significant contribution to her exploration of social and psychological themes and provides a poignant portrayal of a young woman's struggle for independence and fulfillment in a restrictive environment.