Writers Can Be Made, If Not Born

Born into a stifling upper-class social world, the little girl who became the famous author Edith Wharton was fascinated by stories from very early on. She wasn't poor, but she had much to overcome, especially a society hostile to women using their creativity in certain ways.

The Brave Escape of Edith Wharton: A Biography is a Junior Library Guild selection by Connie Nordhielm Wooldridge. Aimed at young people, the photo-filled book taught me quite a bit. It's a strikingly elegant...