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83rd out of 1,861 books
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Roman Fever and Other Stories
These short works display Wharton's talent as a satirist "skilled at dissecting the elements of emotional subtleties, moral ambiguities, and the implications of social constrictions" (Cythina Griffin Wolfe, from the Introduction).
Paperback, 304 pages
Published
June 13th 1997
by Scribner
(first published 1964)
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I haven't read Edith Wharton since high school. I don't even remember what we read.
A colleague stopped by my desk at school last week, and said his wife put Roman Fever into his hands and told him to read it.
He was amazed:
1) that he had never heard of this jewel and,
2) at the cruelty of women.
He piqued my interest.
I checked our catalog and we had it, so I threw it into my bag. A few nights later I picked it up while I was waiting for the even...more
A colleague stopped by my desk at school last week, and said his wife put Roman Fever into his hands and told him to read it.
He was amazed:
1) that he had never heard of this jewel and,
2) at the cruelty of women.
He piqued my interest.
I checked our catalog and we had it, so I threw it into my bag. A few nights later I picked it up while I was waiting for the even...more
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After the blood and guts of Blood Meridian, I needed to add a little civilization back into my reading life - and nobody does over-civilization like Edith Wharton. Whether they meet the challenge by laughing, crying, or overdosing on exhaustion and sleeping pills, her characters are beset on all sides by the constrictions of unimaginative convention - a force with which McCarthy's cowboys are entirely untroubled.
I have a mixed history with Wharton; I found The House of Mirth overwro...more
I have a mixed history with Wharton; I found The House of Mirth overwro...more
I enjoyed this collection of what are considered some of Edith Wharton's finest short stories so much that I read it all over again, right after reading it the first time.
Some of the themes are familiar, such as people's sense of identity and social acceptance in upper-class society, but there is a large range of storylines, many of which deal with marital relationships and their various endings.
Wharton doesn't waste space on overly detailed descriptions of places or things; s...more
Some of the themes are familiar, such as people's sense of identity and social acceptance in upper-class society, but there is a large range of storylines, many of which deal with marital relationships and their various endings.
Wharton doesn't waste space on overly detailed descriptions of places or things; s...more
I LOVE ROMAN FEVER! Though I can be impartial to short stories, when I read this for class, I fell in love with it. I think I connect with it most because I have a childhood friend who always seemed to have everything, every opportunity, everything handed to her, and she walked all over her friends, including me, taking every advantage that came her way. So, when I read this story, I couldn't help but laugh, thinking Mrs. Ansley had the perfect revenge. I have no interest in seeking my own venge...more
Everything about Edith Wharton's work is stately, like an antique fainting couch in a museum, its frame hand-carved, its fabric delicately embroidered. But somehow, the stories are not stifling. Some are sly and humorous, like "Roman Fever" and "Xingu," which both make fools of people who think they know more than they do.
What I really love about Wharton, though—and The Age of Innocence, arguably her most famous work, is a great example of this, too—is the way she...more
What I really love about Wharton, though—and The Age of Innocence, arguably her most famous work, is a great example of this, too—is the way she...more
his is not your typical Roman Holiday!
The lead into the story sets an uneasy tone of distance between the two women. The author begins the story by showing us the two mothers sitting on a terrace of a roman restaurant. The distance is well represented in the text by the careful word choice, for example, in the lead the women “looked first at each other, and then down on the out spread glories of ..:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” />Palatine and t...more
The lead into the story sets an uneasy tone of distance between the two women. The author begins the story by showing us the two mothers sitting on a terrace of a roman restaurant. The distance is well represented in the text by the careful word choice, for example, in the lead the women “looked first at each other, and then down on the out spread glories of ..:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” />Palatine and t...more
It is so fun to revisit one of your authors! I am not a short story fan, but I will read anything written by Edith Wharton- love her writing style and syntax! A classic is a classic for a reason, and E W is a writer of unforgettable classics. These short stories are timeless! Loved the second in the series about a book club and their successful effort in befuddling an arrogant author visiting one of the club's meetings :)!
This was likely a great introduction to a fabulous writer. A friend of mine is nearly finished reading Age of Innocence, and he has had nothing but praise for the book. I was somewhat overwhelmed by Wharton's verbosity, to the point where I felt the language was borderline prolix (thank you, Mr.s Ellis and Cave). But on the whole, I rather enjoyed the stories, and anticipate reading ... Innocence.
I had to read this book for my American Literature class. I didn't like at the beginning because it is written with really hard words. However, I HAD to read it in my class and eventually I like it a lot. It talks about problems in our society and how we care so much about others think.
It made me think about of a lot of stuff like: marriage, status, society and people in general.
It made me think about of a lot of stuff like: marriage, status, society and people in general.
Roman Fever is the story that hooked me on Edith Wharton. Reading her books is like looking thru a tiny key hole and seeing a whole world open up before you. Amazing insight into the people and social constraints of her time. Wharton can give one polite exchange of dialogue the impact of a freight train.
Wow! Incredibly good. Wonder why we didn't read this in high school? Collection of surprising, ironic tales, with an insightful look into people's desires and paranoias and how one can become bound by them. VERY VERY good.
Une histoire courte mais efficace et qui te donne un bon coup dans les gencives à la dernière minute, héhé
Le meilleur que j'ai lu de Wharton pour le moment...
Le meilleur que j'ai lu de Wharton pour le moment...
Read about half of the stories in the book. Wharton is quite a masterful storyteller. "Roman Fever" contains the ultimate ending smackdown ever. :)
Tatiana
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Tatiana by:
anyone who appreaciates classic literature
There is nothing much you can say about a classic. A classic is a classic for a reason. Edith Wharton is undeniably one of the best American writers and this book of short stories is another proof of it. It is a mark of a true talent to be able in a matter of 20-25 pages to reveal both deep nature of characters and expose society follies. Each story is a masterpiece which leaves you with a deeper understanding of suffocating restrictions of 19th century America and complexities of human nature. ...more
"Roman Fever" is one of my most favorite short stories. I love the zing at the end.
If you do nothing else in your life, read "Roman Fever" and "Xingu"
Roman Fever is a favorite short story to teach. Loved the whole book.
"Roman Fever" is the best - clever and unexpected.
Such a great little twist in at the end!
I devoured this book of short stories. It has been awhile since I have read something so clever as Roman Fever.
"Roman Fever" and "Xingu" deserve 5 stars.
I really enjoyed this short story.
Great collection, fun to read.
This made me love Wharton all over again after a couple of disappointing novels. The standout here is "Xingu", which is a scathingly brilliant, utterly wonderful take-down of pretentious society matrons whose literary club is giving a luncheon for a famous author. I also especially liked "After Holbein", a rather creepy tale of two elderly socialites, and "The Angel at the Grave", about a woman who has devoted her whole life to the care of her dead grandfather's hou...more
The title story is perfectly crafted, building in tension to a powerful climax. Edith Wharton is a master of scene and dialogue and knows exactly what spaces to leave between the lines. I also loved Xingu.
George Nicholis
added it
2009.
Wharton knows how to get inside the follies and foibles of class, gender prescriptions, psychology. I got something out of every one of these short stories--and enjoyed the plot twists and endings. I can only imagine how her own divorce in this time period was fodder for these stories. I would really give it a 4.5--and at times you have to pay a little more attention to language, a paragraph to make sure you are picking it all up--but definitely worth reading.
women authors,short fiction
Laura
rated it
Recommends it for:
fans of short stories, nineteenth-century American, writer's craft
Recommended to Laura by:
professor
Shelves:
american
I read Roman Fever for one of dear old Dr. N's classes, and I've listened to a few of her other short stories on the NPR Shorts podcast (great podcast, btw). Wharton's subtle, biting irony and penchant for weaving significant plot twists into the slightest details always gives me goosebumps. She's one of those authors one admires for how shes says things as much as for why she says them.
I needed something to read that wasn't assigned but wasn't too enthralling. 'Roman Fever' and 'The Other Two' kick ass, and the rest of the stories so far are slow but enjoyable.
Edit: After reading the rest of the short stories, I've learned that enjoyable and slow are not incompatable, but actually complimentary. Now I have to read one of Wharton's novels. She's fantastic.
Edit: After reading the rest of the short stories, I've learned that enjoyable and slow are not incompatable, but actually complimentary. Now I have to read one of Wharton's novels. She's fantastic.
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Edith Newbold Jones was born into such wealth and privilege that her family inspired the phrase "keeping up with the Joneses." The youngest of three children, Edith spent her early years touring Europe with her parents and, upon the family's return to the United States, enjoyed a privileged childhood in New York and Newport, Rhode Island. Edith's creativity and talent soon became obvious...more
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