Glennard had never thought himself a hero; but he had been certain that he was incapable of baseness.
The story of a young man who sc... read full description
The story of a young man who sc... read full description
reviews
Aug 18, 2011
Rowena
rated it: 
my first brush with edith wharton. her language was sometimes a bit difficult to follow and there were many sentences i had to reread, though this was probably just a result of my limited processing capabilities as the story was still no less accessible. i wasn't sure about alexa's conclusions/justifications of glennard's actions/behavior in the end, because he didn't really seem a better person at all, just one who was more paranoid and still somewhat cruel (although to be fair his emotions wer
More...
Nov 06, 2011
Nancy
rated it:
The Touchstone is an early Edith Wharton story about a man of no principles. He was loved, but could not return that love. He held letters from a woman who loved him and, after her death, sold them, creating a rift in his own marriage.
While critics write Wharton was depicting the universal roles of men and women in her time, I found the book loaded with phrases and instances that expressed subtle rage. No one I read has said this, but I think the book was an outlet for Wharton to expres More...
While critics write Wharton was depicting the universal roles of men and women in her time, I found the book loaded with phrases and instances that expressed subtle rage. No one I read has said this, but I think the book was an outlet for Wharton to expres More...
Feb 05, 2011
Kathryn
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Feb 12, 2009
Dave
rated it:
“The Touchstone” is Edith Wharton’s second book and it was published in 1900. It was also published under the title “A Gift From The Grave”. Her previous literary effort was a collection of short stories titled “The Greater Inclination” and this is a longer story, roughly what we would today call a novella. The author takes an interesting premise, and creates an engaging story which is easy to read and flows quickly. The reader doesn’t want to put this book down.
The premise of More...
The premise of More...
Jul 21, 2010
Marita
rated it: 
Maybe Wharton's charm and acerbity wear with the more of her books that you read or maybe this one just is not her best.
Lovely writing, some interesting insights but ultimately difficult to be invested in. The idea is compelling: selling out a not-love to secure your true love--who eventually falls a little flat. But if you've read Wharton, from the get-go you know it's not going to pan out all too well. And then it doesn't. And I couldn't quite get myself to care about any of the c More...
Lovely writing, some interesting insights but ultimately difficult to be invested in. The idea is compelling: selling out a not-love to secure your true love--who eventually falls a little flat. But if you've read Wharton, from the get-go you know it's not going to pan out all too well. And then it doesn't. And I couldn't quite get myself to care about any of the c More...
Aug 11, 2011
Emma
rated it:
This is I believe my first book by Edith Wharton. I like her writing style, the psychology around her characters. There are many themes in here that could be comparable to Jane Austen’s books, but I think Edith’s writing is much more profound and subtle as well. Deception and/or self-deception is surrounded by lots of circumstances that could play in the favor of the character at play, so much so that I was leaning more towards compassion than judgment.
Original post:
http://wordsandpeace.wordpress.com/2011/... More...
Original post:
http://wordsandpeace.wordpress.com/2011/... More...
Nov 09, 2011
Nicky
rated it:
Typical Edith Wharton tale of someone getting exactly what they want but it being poisoned in some way. In this case a guy amasses enough wealth to nab the girl of his dreams, however the way he gets the cash means he is wracked by a guilt with which he cannot come to terms. Ever. It's a depressing read. It's mostly bramble-minded, woe-is-me, hate and blame from the protagonist for almost everyone he knows.
While I was reading I thought, this is taking too long. The tale might have suited More...
While I was reading I thought, this is taking too long. The tale might have suited More...
Oct 02, 2011
Tanya Marie
rated it:
Loving the classic, Ethan Frome, by Edith Wharton so much, it surprised me that the same author wrote this book! The narrator of this audio version was soooooooo dry and slow and about put me to sleep every time I started it. The story itself was interesting but hard to follow at times. Gave up towards the end - just couldn't finish :(
Mar 25, 2011
Martha
rated it:
A good feminist book. My edition had a preface explaining that women didn't used to write about their own experiences in fiction; a practice common for men.
This was a very short book, and a good read. It tests the relationship between a husband and wife and shows the subleties of how they know each other from being together so long.
This was a very short book, and a good read. It tests the relationship between a husband and wife and shows the subleties of how they know each other from being together so long.
Nov 16, 2011
Marie
rated it: 
My 100th book on Goodreads! I intentionally made it a work by Edith Wharton. She is one of my favorite authors and deserved the distinction of my 100th book. Once again she has so eloquently written of the anguish of men's souls when confronted with their own weakness and pride, particularly in their relationships with women. This was illustrated when the main character Glennard contemplated this thought, ' one felt if she had been prettier she would have had emotions instead of ideas.' Ma
More...
Apr 23, 2008
Chris
rated it:
ace intro by the incomparable salley vickers. almost as good as the novel itself.
feckless chap can't marry classy lady because he has no money. *But* once upon a time he was loved by a lady he didnt love back. she went on to be mega famous writer and he has hundreds of her plaintive letters.
he sells them thru a go-between so no one knows it was him she loved (not even his beloved). they sell to the publishers for a goodly sum and then they sell en masse to the public. he can marry h More...
feckless chap can't marry classy lady because he has no money. *But* once upon a time he was loved by a lady he didnt love back. she went on to be mega famous writer and he has hundreds of her plaintive letters.
he sells them thru a go-between so no one knows it was him she loved (not even his beloved). they sell to the publishers for a goodly sum and then they sell en masse to the public. he can marry h More...
Sep 08, 2010
Karlan
rated it:
Wharton's novella captures the psychological problems of a young man who should be happy but who destroys his own chances. Owning a Nook has led me to read more books which I missed when young. This return to authors from the past may be an unforeseen consequence of the E reader.
Aug 10, 2010
astrangerhere
rated it:
A fantastic portrait of a lost art. The story of a man who sells love letters after the object of his affection has died and the effect that it has on him. I think with a proper understanding of how correspondence was a part of life in the period of the novel (1890-1900), the book becomes much more moving.
Feb 12, 2011
Debra
rated it:
My favorite line in chapter “VII”: We live in our own souls as in an unmapped region, a few acres of which we have cleared for our habitation; while of the nature of those nearest us we know but the boundaries that march with ours.
Nov 27, 2010
Jennifer
rated it:
Fantastic plot, long chewy sentences, surprisingly happy ending, published in 1900 and stands the test of time. "Genius is of small use to a woman who does not know how to do her hair."
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Sep 20, 2007
Liz
rated it:
Update: I am a moron. I located the Melville House cover image. But everything that I said about my adoration of them still stands!
The image of the edition I read was not available online, but it was from Melville House's "Art of the Novella" series. Melville House is one of my fave small presses, all these editions make make me drool (designwise), and the titles in the series are all outstanding. I talked to one of their editors at the Brooklyn Book Festival and was p More...
The image of the edition I read was not available online, but it was from Melville House's "Art of the Novella" series. Melville House is one of my fave small presses, all these editions make make me drool (designwise), and the titles in the series are all outstanding. I talked to one of their editors at the Brooklyn Book Festival and was p More...
Jul 11, 2010
Charlotte
rated it:
Perhaps the ending was a bit... too much, but it was a quick and enjoyable read--slightly intense, as always with Wharton, it was emotionally-jarring and thought-provoking. You can tell after reading some of her later works that this was her first published novella, but nevertheless, well-crafted.
Jan 06, 2010
Carol
rated it:
It was fascinating how the main character's guilt over his decision affected his whole life. That being said, it's not a book that I'm going to remember for long. It just didn't touch me.
Aug 03, 2011
Giuliana
rated it:
This was Edith Wharton's first novella. Interesting, well written exploration of guilt and honest discourse between a husband and wife.
Dec 07, 2011
Recommended in the book, Tolstoy and the Purple Chair, my year of Magical Reading.
Nov 04, 2010
Amanda
rated it:
Okay, the emotional upheaval near the end gets a little unrealistic, or just confusing.
Oct 05, 2011
Sarah
rated it:
What can I say?!!! This writer is something else... Words fail to describe my sudden adoration of her deep style of emotional maturity.
Apr 21, 2011
RunRachelRun
rated it:
Picked up from the library this afternoon. Such a slim novella, nearly missed it on the shelf.
Feb 18, 2008
Melville House Publishing
rated it:
This beautifully packaged series of classic novellas includes the works of Anton Chekhov, Colette, Henry James, Herman Melville, and Leo Tolstoy. These collectible editions are the first single-volume publications of these classic tales, offering a closer look at this underappreciated literary form and providing a fresh take on the world's most celebrated authors.
Aug 20, 2008
Cate
rated it:
the big take-away from the touchstone is to see wharton on a smaller scale. the characters are all just as desperate as ever to hide their mortifying, and reputation-destroying, past.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Feb 05, 2012
