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The Age of Desire

by Jennie Fields (Goodreads Author)

3.53 of 5 stars 3.53 · rating details · 516 ratings · 163 reviews

For fans of The Paris Wife, a sparkling glimpse into the life of Edith Wharton and the scandalous love affair that threatened her closest friendship

They say behind every great man is a woman. Behind Edith Wharton, there was Anna Bahlmann—her governess turned literary secretary, and her mothering, nurturing friend.

When at the age of forty-five, Edith falls passionately in l...more

Hardcover, 368 pages

Published August 2nd 2012 by Pamela Dorman Books (first published August 1st 2012)

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Jul 21, 2012 Sharlene rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, memoir

This book was recieved as the result of a GoodReads giveaway.

I was a bit leery picking up this book as I knew I had a busy few weeks ahead of me and might not get enough time to pick it up or worse, what if I forgot what was going on and who was who?

Let me reassure you, this is the PERFECT summer read! I'm not a romance girl and although some may consider this a romance genre I loved the weave of the story and the richness of the characters...I would find myself sometimes cross with Edith Wharto...more

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Apr 09, 2013 Michelle rated it 3 of 5 stars

Overall, I thought this was a well written, fascinating imagining of Edith
Wharton's personal and writing life at a time when she had recently published
"The House of Mirth" and was starting to receive both national and international recognition. I thought
what the author did very well here was express what it was like to live in a time
very different from today, a time when the world was not inudated with sexually
explicit images and women could be quite naive about that aspect of life. The
scene...more

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Dec 28, 2012 Henrietta H rated it 4 of 5 stars

I am always interested in reading about writers whether it is fiction or nonfiction. This book is about a real writer early in the 20th Century who ultimately wanted to live in Parish. Her name is Edith Wharton. She wrote The House of Mirth. It is also the story of her secretary who had also been her governess, Anna - I'm sorry, but I can't remember how to spell her last name.

Edith has a sexless marriage, but then finds her sensual self awakened, and she also falls in love with "a bounder" as Ed...more

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Dec 11, 2012 Sandie rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Age Of Desire opens in Paris. Edith Wharton, who has just written The House Of Mirth, is attending a literary salon. Her eyes are drawn to a newcomer, a man named Morton Fullerton. He is charismatic, compelling, and draws the attention of men and women alike. For some reason, he seems attracted to Edith, a position a married woman in her forties is not used to. Especially one such as Edith, who has lived her life married to a man whom she has, at best, a friendship with, no love or passion....more

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Sep 06, 2012 Eliza rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: novel, lincoln-book-club

9/7/2012: A good airplane read, especially if you're a fan of Edith Wharton (which I AM!). But that's all it is--and I was expecting so much more from this "imagined biography" of Wharton's mid-life extramarital love affair. Based on her letters and those of her governess-turned-secretary Anna Bahlman, the story fleshes out the known facts of Wharton's life from 1908-1910 (with an epilogue in 1916) with a story both prosaic and melodramatic. The writing is limited and boring (if she said the wor...more

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Aug 31, 2012 Joan rated it 3 of 5 stars

I received this book in the mail as a gift from Jennie Fields. I was excited to read it since Edith Wharton is one of the authors I really like. (Ethan Frome, The House of Mirth etc.) Edith was a great philanthopist and fighter for the underdog during her life, giving much to charity. She had written over 40 novels along with short stores and poems. I knew she was married for 20 some years but didn't know she was virtually a virgin during her whole marriage. She had a loveless marriage and event...more

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Jul 04, 2012 Jaylia3 rated it 4 of 5 stars

In her memoir Edith Wharton doesn’t mention Anna Bahlmann, a devoted servant who started out as her governess but who continued to play a prominent role as Edith grew older by becoming her companion and literary secretary. This novel explores some of the very personal stories Edith left out of the memoir but used as inspiration for her own novels and poetry. Written from both Edith’s and Anna’s points of view, The Age of Desire imagines their lives during the trying period when middle-aged, unha...more

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Jun 03, 2012 Jo Anne B rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a story told from the point of view of two women in the early 1900s. One is Edith Wharton, a wealthy woman who gets famous after writing her first novel. She is 48 years old and stuck in a marriage to Teddy whom she had sex with once after they had been married two weeks and it hurt her so bad, they never had sex again. She had tried to ask her mother before the wedding night about sex and her mother laughed at her and then angrily told her she should already know. Well, she never found...more This is a story told from the point of view of two women in the early 1900s. One is Edith Wharton, a wealthy woman who gets famous after writing her first novel. She is 48 years old and stuck in a marriage to Teddy whom she had sex with once after they had been married two weeks and it hurt her so bad, they never had sex again. She had tried to ask her mother before the wedding night about sex and her mother laughed at her and then angrily told her she should already know. Well, she never found out and because of that, she lived a life bereft of passion and desire. The other point of view is from Anna, Edith's governess when she was growing up. Anna was like a mother to Edith since Edith's own mother shunned her and told her how disappointed she was in her. Anna raised and taught Edith how to read and write. She never left Edith and became her personal secretary. She proofread Edith's writing as she typed up her pages. She knew Edith inside and out, and eventually that tore them apart.

These two women were completely devoid of any sex and romanticism. Oh, there were men they had feelings for, but they were so insecure they never believed themselves worthy of anyone's desire. But they both chose their life. Edith could have married Walter whom she did love and desire and it was reciprocated but she could never marry him because he was too smart and intimidating. So she married Teddy, a guy with no money or prospects, but he wasn't as smart as her so she thought she would be happier with him. Anna had feelings for Teddy and he did too, but she was so devoted to Edith, she could never betray her like that. But even when he meets a wealthy man with a yacht while traveling in Greece, she thinks he just wants to marry her so she can take care of his child who has Down Syndrome. She misinterprets the whole situation and misses another opportunity for love.

I loved the whole atmosphere in this book. The French salons, the parties in London, the gossipy people, the bourgeois lifestyle, and the sex. Yes, our Edith finally gets some and some more. While her husband is going mentally insane because of her affairs, she is having mad, passionate sex and multiple orgasms with a bisexual philandering journalist. He drives her mad with desire as she never really knows what their relationship is. Turns out that they had Friends with Benefits in 1908! But that only lasts so long before one wants more than the other. Edith and Anna experience some desire and learn some lessons in love and in the end console each other in their sorrow.

This was a fabulous, very well written read. I will definitely read more from this author! (less)

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May 18, 2013 Kelly Hager rated it 5 of 5 stars

Somehow, I've managed to make it to 33 without reading any of Edith Wharton's novels. No, we didn't read Ethan Frome or The Age of Innocence in high school or in college. But that didn't stand in my way of devouring this novel.

It's very obvious that Jennie Fields did a ton of research for this novel. It never bogs down the narrative, however; every detail was completely relevant to the story. I'm guessing that's a hard line to walk---being as accurate as possible but never throwing in details j...more

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Nov 11, 2012 Arlena rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 4-stars, a-good-book, adult-read, fiction, fiction-reviews, my-reviews

Author: Jennie Fields
Published By: Pamela Dorman Books
Age Recommended: Adult
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Blog For: GMTA
Rating: 4

Review:

"The Age of Desire" by Jennie Fields good historical fiction novel read. This storyline main character was Edith Wharton that really kept you on a roller coaster ride. I didn't know whether to like her or not .... this just depends on what is going on at the time. Ms. Wharton employee... Anna was really some employee and best friend. I would love to have had her frien...more

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Aug 25, 2012 Susan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Let’s see--a historical novel based on an author’s life with female friendship, romance, and Paris–-of course I had to read it! The book focuses in on the years of greatest upheaval in Edith Wharton’s life. After the publication of The House of Mirth, Edith’s reputation as a writer is taking off. She comes to Paris in 1907 to be with other artists and literary giants (and because it is Paris.) She is accompanied by her household staff which includes her long-time secretary, Anna Bahlmann. Anna i...more

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Jul 17, 2012 Anne rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a really well written book that gives a detailed look at Edith Wharton and her best friend/secretary Anna Bahlmann during a stressful time in Edith's life. The book deals with Edith at 45 years old, unhappy with her marriage and believing she will never know true love in her life. She meets Morton Fullerton and is attracted to him almost immediately. Morton is a cad and cannot be trusted but Edith does not listen to the gossip or to Anna and has an affair with him. The scenes between Edi...more

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Jan 01, 2013 Adele rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, realistic-fiction, romance, snarky-characters, great-cover, culture

"The Age of Desire" is an interesting little period romance. I picked it up mainly to the book's backstory; love letters were found by the early 20th century novelist Edith Wharton which revealed that this witty socialite and popular novelist wrote stories of love and romance, but she herself had a depressing and loveless marriage. Even more mysteriously, there were several mysterious years of her middle-aged life where she took up with a paramour who was something of a con man.

"The Age of Desi...more "The Age of Desire" is an interesting little period romance. I picked it up mainly to the book's backstory; love letters were found by the early 20th century novelist Edith Wharton which revealed that this witty socialite and popular novelist wrote stories of love and romance, but she herself had a depressing and loveless marriage. Even more mysteriously, there were several mysterious years of her middle-aged life where she took up with a paramour who was something of a con man.

"The Age of Desire" is a novel that feels equally historical and fictional, using Edith Wharton's known biography and letters to re-create the turn of the 19th century and revealing briefly the insane wealth and selfishness, as well as the intense sadness and passionlessness, of upper-crust society. Other known historical figures such as Henry James come around as larger-than-life best friends.

Rather than being plotted as a simple romance, "The Age of Desire" is told through the alternating perspectives of Edith Wharton and her faithful governess, now copy-editor, Anna Bahlmann. Their friendship and reliance upon each other is at times heart-warming, while other times shifts in their relationship reveals Anna's moral character pitted against Edith's upper-class selfishness and whims. The point of view remains constant despite the shift in perspective, so it does not confuse the reader and just adds layers of depth to the story. This storytelling feels unique and well-done; switching perspectives gives each character depth and a reason for their actions, which is necessary quite often for Edith Wharton's wild love affair.

There are also clever little moments where the novel feels very meta. Edith and her real-life friends' affairs or selfishness seem to be reflected in the kindness, selfishness or growth of her novels. In Edith's greatest moments of utter selfishness and distancing herself from Anna, for example, she is writing a novel about a mother who is a horrible person, abandoning her child and friends. This was a nice little way to tie in Wharton's novels and show that her actions created art.

While "The Age of Desire" was cleverly written, I have two complaints that go hand-in-hand. The novel felt too long, and it felt like some side story lines were starting to go somewhere and then suddenly stopped. I feel that these issues are mainly due to the historical accuracy of the novel; instead of being paced as a fiction novel with the plot driving the story, it felt like it was paced chronologically like a diary or even a textbook. The end of the story and the wrapping-up of Wharton's love affair, her husband's actions and Anna's attempt at her own life dragged on for the final third of the book. While this fit with the general historical accuracy, it felt very unevenly paced with the excitingly witty beginning and romanticism of the middle. We would have missed out on some beautifully written letters if this were paced more like a novel, so clearly it was an intentional decision. But personally, I thought it was long and unnecessary to the storytelling. It also made Edith's eventual growth as a person seem almost tacked-on since, literally only a few pages at the very end.

My complaints are really far and few. That the novel drags because it is so beautifully written is an artistic choice. This is a finely stylized book, and there is definitely a wide audience out there for a stylized, beautifully written, at times witty, at times romantic, at times incredibly frustrating look at ridiculously wealthy and unpredictable artists. If you have the time for a little historical fiction, there is probably something in this for you. You may not love it, but you will almost certainly like it.(less)

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Jul 24, 2012 Lydia Presley rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, fiction, historic-fiction

Fans of Paula McLain's The Paris Wife are going to fall in love with Jennie Field's masterpiece, The Age of Desire. This book is so lush and perfect I savored my way through it, exploring the life of Edith Wharton through the eyes of her faithful secretary, Anna.

I am going to be completely honest here - I knew next to nothing about Wharton. I'd read recently some fiction that was inspired by her... but still knew next to nothing about the woman. This book remedied that. Inspired by Edith's real...more

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Mar 03, 2013 Christianne Swearson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical

Impressive. Edith Wharton was so unhappy in her marriage but didn't want to be known as a divorced woman. She was inexperienced with men and in her off-and-on again affair with Morton Fullerton, she never seems to perceive his real nature and motivation. She's always wildly up and down while waiting for him to fulfill her dreams. The author Henry James appears as the most comforting and supportive friend. He's very gracious about helping Edith and Morton have time together, even though he seems...more

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Sep 05, 2012 Joanne rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book is about Edith Wharton's passionate affair with American journalist Morton Fullerton. Edith had approached middle age and other than harsh attempts by her husband never experience loving a man. The story is also about her governess and later her editorial assistant, Anna Bahlmann. I liked the novel and found it interesting and well written. What I especially like was the author's ability to capture the passion, sexually and emotionally, both Edit and Anna felt missing in their lives.Ed...more

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Jul 31, 2012 Kory Wells rated it 5 of 5 stars

It is 1907, and Edith Wharton has come into her own with the publication of The House of Mirth. Everyone in Paris - even the servants - seems to know she is a famous American author. Graced by the luxuries of her upper-class status, her writing life is rich with travel abroad, friendships with other writers such as Henry James, and the steady support of her childhood governess turned secretary, Anna Bahlman. But in her personal life, Edith is restless in a way that travel and books and smoking a...more It is 1907, and Edith Wharton has come into her own with the publication of The House of Mirth. Everyone in Paris - even the servants - seems to know she is a famous American author. Graced by the luxuries of her upper-class status, her writing life is rich with travel abroad, friendships with other writers such as Henry James, and the steady support of her childhood governess turned secretary, Anna Bahlman. But in her personal life, Edith is restless in a way that travel and books and smoking and knitting won't quell. In her mid-forties and married "for all the wrong reasons" to the kindly but morose Teddy, she increasingly senses that something is missing from her life. At a salon in Paris, she catches the gaze of that something in the blue, brazen eyes of Morton Fullerton, an American journalist for the Times of London. And now Edith knows: "She wants something, but is she willing to take the risk to find it?"

Anna Bahlman is practically famous by association to Edith, she tells herself. She takes a quiet pleasure in that fact, knowing that when she types Edith's words, when she suggests a little change or comments on a developing plot, she is becoming part of literary history. She is devoted to Edith, but it pains her to see the distance between Edith and Teddy. Any woman should be happy to call Teddy her husband. Anna once told Teddy that herself. Anna and Teddy have had a special bond since that long-ago conversation, but now both Whartons are becoming more difficult since Morton Fullerton entered the picture. Anna would never have imagined it after all these years, but might she have to start over - at sixty?

The Age of Desire, the story of a love affair and sexual awakening informed by the letters of Edith Wharton, is also the story of a friendship defined by the societal roles and conventions of the early 20th century. The novel’s self-assured style is built on meticulous research, skillful characterization, period-perfect pacing, and phrasing and metaphors to make even a poet envious - for example, every word that Henry James, who once stammered, now speaks “bears the weight of a dictionary falling off a shelf.” This novel is remarkable for both its eloquent evocation of an era and for its erotic scenes. But its real risk – and triumph – is in its consummate consideration of the emotional complexities of an affair and its aftermath between both lovers and friends. Of this, Edith would be proud.

-- review of advance reader copy --
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Sep 22, 2012 Barb rated it 4 of 5 stars

First of all, Edith Wharton is one of my favorite authors. As a result,I had read several of her biographies and her autobiography. The more recent biographies alluded to the affair in this book but very few details were given. I have no idea how much of this book is based upon Jennie Fields' research but I loved the read. Many of Edith Wharton's challenges are portrayed.....the bipolar husband, the mother who showed her no love and the difficulty of being a woman in the early nineteenth century...more

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Aug 20, 2012 Sarah rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: didn-t-quite-finish

This should have been something I loved but for some reason a little over half way through I just couldn't go on. It wasn't that the story or writing was bad but I was just bored. And I got to a point where the little battle in my head of Just Finish The Book vs. There Are Too Many More To Read the nagging of other worlds won.
The book (from what I have gathered thus far) is about Edith Wharton- famous female author of the early 1900's. It's historical fiction researched to where the author use...more

This should have been something I loved but for some reason a little over half way through I just couldn't go on. It wasn't that the story or writing was bad but I was just bored. And I got to a point where the little battle in my head of Just Finish The Book vs. There Are Too Many More To Read the nagging of other worlds won.
The book (from what I have gathered thus far) is about Edith Wharton- famous female author of the early 1900's. It's historical fiction researched to where the author used Wharton's diaries to weave a tale based on her life. We find out that she didn't have the marriage of her dreams and also that she had a governess turned secretary that she was quite close to.
We learn about both women but the bulk of the story belongs to Edith. Edith married young and according to her she made a bad choice. She grows to pretty much despise her husband who she has almost nothing in common with and who suffers from melancholia. Edith writes her books and does her thing and comes to meet a man named Morton Fullerton to which she falls in love with. He admires her just the same and the 60% of what I read revolves around their affair. And also that the secretary, Anna, disapproves.Anna also has feelings for Edith's husband but keeps her feelings to herself.
Sounds really good right? It was.. to a fault. For me there were just too many passages where Edith is just meandering in her head. I'm thinking the author is trying to set up a lot of tension because nothing physical happened until half way through but I just got a point where if that's all the story is about- Edith having an affair- then I'm just like, well get on with it already. To me, the greatest story (so far in my reading career) that is mostly about tension and suspense in a relationship was Gone With The Wind. I sat on the edge of my seat wondering if Rhett and Scarlet would be finally getting together but this one, maybe i'll regret not finishing it but for now I've moved on. There are just too many stories calling my name that my brain and heart want to chew on. (less)

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Jul 27, 2012 Eve rated it 2 of 5 stars

This book was received for free through Goodreads First Reads.

As an Edith Wharton fan, I was eager to start in on this book. I quickly realized it was written more like chick lit than traditional historical fiction. No big deal, I thought – I like chick lit too. But the writing was worse than that. The prose was more similar to books I’d been assigned to read with my 4th grade pen pal - including exaggerated explanations of pronunciations of French words, unnecessary clarification of points that...more

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Sep 01, 2012 Kim rated it 4 of 5 stars

A wonderful story of the friendship between two remarkable women. Edith Wharton is trapped in a loveless marriage and longs to experience true love. She thinks she finds it in Morton, a man of dubious character whom she meets in Paris. Edith risks everything - her marriage, her social standing, even her friendship with her secretary and best friend, Anna, to be with him. Anna, in turn, gives up her life to be with Edith.
At times, I found myself angry with Edith for treating Anna in such a shabby...more

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Oct 04, 2012 Mara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

If you like the Paris Wife, you'll really like The Age of Desire. The novel chronicles several years in the life of Author Edith Wharton, one of the first female American writers to hit 'bestseller' status (if it was called that early in the 20th century). Wharton, living in a loveless marriage, finds passion with Rogue Morton Fullerton. The story is told from two perspectives-Wharton's and her lifelong companion and secretary, Anna Bahlmann.

It's interesting how Wharton's novels seem to mimic he...more

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Sep 08, 2012 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Enjoyed reading this book about Edith Wharton's relationships with her mentally ill husband, her governess/best friend/assistant, and sleezy lover. Apparently, Edith has a sexless marriage and discovers sexual passion through her affair with Morton Fullerton, a cad. Edith's behavior was often selfish. She moved back and forth between Paris and Massachusetts with no regard for her husband's feelings. She dumped a lot on Anna, her closest friend. She had an affair. She constantly was out and about...more

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Aug 01, 2012 Cynthia rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-in-2012

I love Edith Wharton. She’s one of my favorite writers which is why, in part, I was disappointed with “Age of Desire”. At its center is a very tedious love story and at the heart of the love story are characters that show no development. They circle the same tired emotions and interactions throughout the book. No one grows.

I did enjoy some of the insights into Wharton’s writing life the international milieu in which she moved. Of course Henry James appears and she blends easily in artistic salon...more

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Aug 13, 2012 Diane S. rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.5 I loved the setting, tone and descriptive writing in this book. The descriptions of the homes that Wharton and her husband owned were fascinating. I enjoyed reading about the friendship between Edith and her assistant/friend, the trouble is I actually liked the friend much better than Edith. I also felt very sorry for Teddy, who really loved Edith, while she married him just because it was what people did. I also liked reading about her books and how they had been ignored for so many years u...more

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Nov 26, 2012 Casee Marie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, favorites, reviewed

My full review at Literary Inklings

Intertwining passages from Edith Wharton’s diaries and letters, The Age of Desire depicts an iconic time in history from the perspective of two resolute and very different women. From Paris to England, Germany to New England, Wharton’s world comes to dazzling life under the skill of author Jennie Fields. Legendary talents take the stage to become delightfully lucid characters in this novelization of Wharton’s midlife scandal, most notably her lover, Morton Full...more

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Aug 25, 2012 Marcie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Edith Wharton is known for her classic books such as The House of Mirth and The Age of Innocence. She lived in the Gilded Age where money and public status went hand in hand. Jennie Fields takes us back to that day and age through the eyes of Edith Wharton and her long time companion, Anna Bahlmann. The book covers the middle of Edith's life, her torrid affair with Morton Fullerton, and her lasting friendship with Anna. Though this book is fiction, it's based on actual events in Wharton's life.
I...more

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Aug 15, 2012 Michelle added it

Edith Wharton is renowned for her works depicting life among the privileged, drawing on her own experiences in this most exclusive of clubs. Much like her characters, Ms. Wharton’s own life was not all parties and luxury. Using Ms. Wharton’s existing letters and diary entries as a foundation, Jennie Fields’ The Age of Desire highlights the tests Ms. Wharton faced just as the critical and popular acclaim for her novels was on the rise. From her increasingly strained relationship with her husband...more Edith Wharton is renowned for her works depicting life among the privileged, drawing on her own experiences in this most exclusive of clubs. Much like her characters, Ms. Wharton’s own life was not all parties and luxury. Using Ms. Wharton’s existing letters and diary entries as a foundation, Jennie Fields’ The Age of Desire highlights the tests Ms. Wharton faced just as the critical and popular acclaim for her novels was on the rise. From her increasingly strained relationship with her husband to the taking of a lover to an intense and long-standing relationship/friendship with her personal secretary, Ms. Fields presents Edith as a woman torn between duty and a search for happiness and allows readers to understand just how Ms. Wharton could create such complex and fully-realized characters.

The inclusion of Ms. Wharton’s and Ms. Bahlmann’s letters throughout the novel adds an air of authenticity to the entire novel while simultaneously, and unexpectedly, creating confusion too. There is no doubt that Ms. Wharton wished for the destruction of her personal correspondence upon her death as this request is actually documented by more than one of her friends. Because she hoped/wished/expected the destruction of her letters, one knows that what she wrote in those letters was incredibly personal. This means that her letters are as close to understanding her innermost thoughts and feelings as one could hope to achieve with any historical figure.

At the same it, the line between fact and fiction is fairly indistinguishable. Whereas this is an excellent trait in other historical novels, for some reason this same characteristic does not work quite as well in The Age of Desire. A reader wants to know which scenes are figments of Ms. Fields’ imagination and which actually occurred for neither Edith, Anna, Morton, or Teddy Wharton are completely sympathetic and a reader hopes this is due more to Ms. Field’s imagination than any of their real-life faults. As surprising as it may be, the truth is unclear, and the narrative suffers for it.

Further confusing matters is Ms. Field’s portrayal of Edith and Anna, not to mention almost every other male in Ms. Wharton’s social circle. Edith fluctuates between strong and independent to spoiled and child-like. In fact, during the novel, it is difficult to imagine her as a forty-something women with worldly experience given some of her tantrums about Anna, Morton, and Teddy. The self-pitying introspection becomes too much for a reader to bear at times, especially when Anna is indulging in the same behavior. Anna too is just as much of a conundrum as Edith. For someone as learned, as experienced, and as independent as Anna Bahlmann, she comes across as needy and weak. Her inability to walk away from Edith’s harsh treatment of her does not endear her to readers, and her longing to be reunited with someone who does tend to treat her as little more than a favored servant at times is disturbingly sycophantic. Both characterizations are surprising in that they just do not fit the public images of each woman.

As for the men throughout the novel, Ms. Fields all but showcases how Edith would have been better off without them. One can forgive Teddy and his fairly abrupt downward spiral, as Edith was young and extremely naïve when she married. Her loyalty to someone with whom she has nothing in common is endearing, even if it is a foreign concept today, and the reader breathes a sigh of relief every time she decides to send him away, although her agonizing before and after the decision does get old very quickly. As for Morton, to call him a roué is a great understatement. His treatment of Edith throughout the novel is repellent, driving Edith to some of the more upsetting and annoying aspects of her behavior. That being said, her letters prove that she did love him, no matter how unworthy he was of that love, which only goes to show that in affairs of the heart, even the wisest can fall prey to bad decisions.

Taking a real-life historical figure and building a fictional story around true events of that person’s life takes a delicate hand and as well as a decent amount of circumspection and respect. While there is no doubt that Ms. Fields did not intend for her novel to be so, there is something decidedly prurient about reading Ms. Wharton’s love letters as they are woven into the narrative. Because they are her actual words, they are more personal and intimate than even the spiciest of bedroom scenes between Edith and Morton or Edith’s own frank inner dialogue. Even though her life experiences do read like a soap opera, one cannot help but feel that to so boldly portray some of its more salacious details tarnishes Ms. Wharton’s image, despite the fact that a reader implicitly knows that Ms. Fields wrote The Age of Desire with the utmost respect for this lauded author.

In spite of some of its questionable issues, The Age of Desire creates a vivid picture of a golden age in Parisian history, when it was alive with American authors-turned-expatriates. Ms. Fields captures perfectly what it must have felt like to have been a successful author at such an interesting epoch in time as well as the effort it took to get to that point. A reader will find the details of this lifestyle fascinating, from the idea of someone as wealthy as a Vanderbilt renting out his apartments to those who can afford to pick up and move an entire household to a different continent several times throughout a year. It is a long-gone era about which Ms. Fields manages to hold a reader’s interest through attentive details and the use of Edith’s own words.

Acknowledgments: Thank you to NetGalley and to Penguin Group for my review copy!
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Jul 08, 2012 Catherine rated it 4 of 5 stars

There are two stories of love in Age of Desire. One is Edith Wharton’s affair with a young journalist and the other is the more enduring constant love between friends. In 1907, Wharton resides in Paris for the winter with her husband, Teddy, and assistant, Anna. Her marriage to Teddy is in name only: he is much older and they have nothing in common. As Edith describes herself she “was raised to be a lady, not a woman.” Into this passionless life comes a young journalist who sweeps her off her fe...more

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May 16, 2013 Bonnie rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Age of Desire by Jennie Fields is remarkably good. The novel is about Edith Wharton and incorporates actual letters and quotes from her diaries to enhance the feel of authenticity. Edith is forty-six and unhappy in her sexless marriage to Teddy. She relies on her assistant, Anna Bahlmann, as her secretary and confidante. With homes in New York and Paris, the action flows smoothly until Edith meets Morton Fullerton who says upon meeting her, "The proverbial late bloomer, Mrs. Wharton." Morton...more

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About Jennie Fields

I love books and longed to start writing them when I was six years old. I wrote my first full- length novel in third grade. It was 365 pages! My teacher didn't have time to read it. As I am less wordy now, I hope you will find the time to read my books.

My new novel, The Age of Desire is based on the life and loves of my favorite novelist: Edith Wharton. Wharton's characters feel as real to me as t...more

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“There is nothing one can do to delay the inevitable, and so it's best just to stand tall.” — 3 people liked it

“... sin has always been more delicious than loyalty.” — 2 people liked it

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