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The Book of the Homeless
Excerpt from The Book of the Homeless: Le Livre Des Sans-Foyer
I appeal to the American people to picture to themselves the plight Of these poor creatures and to endeavor in practical fashion to secure that they shall be saved from further avoidable suffering. Nothing that our people can do will remedy the frightful wrong that has been com mitted on these families. Nothing that can now be done by the civilized world, even if the neutral nations Of the civilized world should at last wake up to the performance Of the duty they have so shamefully failed to perform, can undo the dreadful wrong Of which these unhappy Chil dren, these Old men and women, have been the victims. All that can be done surely should be done to ease their suffering. The part that Amer ica has played in this great tragedy is not an exalted part; and there is all the more reason why Americans should hold up the hands Of those Of their number who, like Mrs. Wharton, are endeavoring to some ex tent to remedy the national shortcomings. We owe to Mrs. Wharton all the assistance we can give. We owe this assistance to the good name Of America, and above all for the cause Of humanity we owe it to the chil dren, the women and the Old men who have suffered such dreadful wrong.
About the Publisher
Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com
This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
I appeal to the American people to picture to themselves the plight Of these poor creatures and to endeavor in practical fashion to secure that they shall be saved from further avoidable suffering. Nothing that our people can do will remedy the frightful wrong that has been com mitted on these families. Nothing that can now be done by the civilized world, even if the neutral nations Of the civilized world should at last wake up to the performance Of the duty they have so shamefully failed to perform, can undo the dreadful wrong Of which these unhappy Chil dren, these Old men and women, have been the victims. All that can be done surely should be done to ease their suffering. The part that Amer ica has played in this great tragedy is not an exalted part; and there is all the more reason why Americans should hold up the hands Of those Of their number who, like Mrs. Wharton, are endeavoring to some ex tent to remedy the national shortcomings. We owe to Mrs. Wharton all the assistance we can give. We owe this assistance to the good name Of America, and above all for the cause Of humanity we owe it to the chil dren, the women and the Old men who have suffered such dreadful wrong.
About the Publisher
Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com
This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
273 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1916
3 people are currently reading
68 people want to read
About the author
Edith Wharton
1,504 books5,366 followersEdith Wharton emerged as one of America’s most insightful novelists, deftly exposing the tensions between societal expectation and personal desire through her vivid portrayals of upper-class life. Drawing from her deep familiarity with New York’s privileged “aristocracy,” she offered readers a keenly observed and piercingly honest vision of Gilded Age society.
Her work reached a milestone when she became the first woman to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, awarded for The Age of Innocence. This novel highlights the constraining rituals of 1870s New York society and remains a defining portrait of elegance laced with regret.
Wharton’s literary achievements span a wide canvas. The House of Mirth presents a tragic, vividly drawn character study of Lily Bart, navigating social expectations and the perils of genteel poverty in 1890s New York. In Ethan Frome, she explores rural hardship and emotional repression, contrasting sharply with her urban social dramas.
Her novella collection Old New York revisits the moral terrain of upper-class society, spanning decades and combining character studies with social commentary. Through these stories, she inevitably points back to themes and settings familiar from The Age of Innocence. Continuing her exploration of class and desire, The Glimpses of the Moon addresses marriage and social mobility in early 20th-century America. And in Summer, Wharton challenges societal norms with its rural setting and themes of sexual awakening and social inequality.
Beyond fiction, Wharton contributed compelling nonfiction and travel writing. The Decoration of Houses reflects her eye for design and architecture; Fighting France: From Dunkerque to Belfort presents a compelling account of her wartime observations. As editor of The Book of the Homeless, she curated a moving, international collaboration in support of war refugees.
Wharton’s influence extended beyond writing. She designed her own country estate, The Mount, a testament to her architectural sensibility and aesthetic vision. The Mount now stands as an educational museum celebrating her legacy.
Throughout her career, Wharton maintained friendships and artistic exchanges with luminaries such as Henry James, Sinclair Lewis, Jean Cocteau, André Gide, and Theodore Roosevelt—reflecting her status as a respected and connected cultural figure.
Her literary legacy also includes multiple Nobel Prize nominations, underscoring her international recognition. She was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature more than once.
In sum, Edith Wharton remains celebrated for her unflinching, elegant prose, her psychological acuity, and her capacity to illuminate the unspoken constraints of society—from the glittering ballrooms of New York to quieter, more remote settings. Her wide-ranging work—novels, novellas, short stories, poetry, travel writing, essays—offers cultural insight, enduring emotional depth, and a piercing critique of the customs she both inhabited and dissected.
Her work reached a milestone when she became the first woman to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, awarded for The Age of Innocence. This novel highlights the constraining rituals of 1870s New York society and remains a defining portrait of elegance laced with regret.
Wharton’s literary achievements span a wide canvas. The House of Mirth presents a tragic, vividly drawn character study of Lily Bart, navigating social expectations and the perils of genteel poverty in 1890s New York. In Ethan Frome, she explores rural hardship and emotional repression, contrasting sharply with her urban social dramas.
Her novella collection Old New York revisits the moral terrain of upper-class society, spanning decades and combining character studies with social commentary. Through these stories, she inevitably points back to themes and settings familiar from The Age of Innocence. Continuing her exploration of class and desire, The Glimpses of the Moon addresses marriage and social mobility in early 20th-century America. And in Summer, Wharton challenges societal norms with its rural setting and themes of sexual awakening and social inequality.
Beyond fiction, Wharton contributed compelling nonfiction and travel writing. The Decoration of Houses reflects her eye for design and architecture; Fighting France: From Dunkerque to Belfort presents a compelling account of her wartime observations. As editor of The Book of the Homeless, she curated a moving, international collaboration in support of war refugees.
Wharton’s influence extended beyond writing. She designed her own country estate, The Mount, a testament to her architectural sensibility and aesthetic vision. The Mount now stands as an educational museum celebrating her legacy.
Throughout her career, Wharton maintained friendships and artistic exchanges with luminaries such as Henry James, Sinclair Lewis, Jean Cocteau, André Gide, and Theodore Roosevelt—reflecting her status as a respected and connected cultural figure.
Her literary legacy also includes multiple Nobel Prize nominations, underscoring her international recognition. She was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature more than once.
In sum, Edith Wharton remains celebrated for her unflinching, elegant prose, her psychological acuity, and her capacity to illuminate the unspoken constraints of society—from the glittering ballrooms of New York to quieter, more remote settings. Her wide-ranging work—novels, novellas, short stories, poetry, travel writing, essays—offers cultural insight, enduring emotional depth, and a piercing critique of the customs she both inhabited and dissected.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
July 26, 2013
This book wouldn't have been put together without Edith Wharton's status in the literary world and her efforts to help the homeless Belgian and French children displaced by WW1. She is the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for literature. In the case of this book she asked her friends to contribute so we have a collection of personal reflections on the time that are unparalleled. The introduction by Pres. Theodore Roosevelt is a plea to the readers to help the relief efforts started by Edith Wharton. In her Preface I should quote as follows: "Train-load after train-load of Flemish children poured into Paris last spring. They were gathered in from the ruins, from the trenches, from the hospices where the Sisters of Charity had been caring for them, and where, in many cases, they had been huddled in with the soldiers quartered in the same buildings. Before each convoy a young lady with fair hair and very blue eyes walked through the train, distributing chocolate and sandwiches to the children and speaking to each of them in turn, very kindly; and all but the very littlest children understood that this lady was their Queen...."
This was the start of only one of charities Edith Wharton was instrumental in beginning, The Children of Flanders Rescue Committee. She recruited quite a cast of musicians (printed scores), artists, poets and writers to contribute. These included Joseph Conrad, Henry James, Claude Monet, Igor Stravinsky and many others.
My favorite stories other than Joseph Conrad's is "The Song of Welsh Women" by Andre Suares and "Wordsworth's Valley in Wartime" by Mrs. Humphrey Ward and my favorite poem is "The Little Children" by W D Howells.
This book is so unique, and there is such a powerhouse of talent displayed therein, that I intend to keep it on easy access. It is available at archive.org.
This was the start of only one of charities Edith Wharton was instrumental in beginning, The Children of Flanders Rescue Committee. She recruited quite a cast of musicians (printed scores), artists, poets and writers to contribute. These included Joseph Conrad, Henry James, Claude Monet, Igor Stravinsky and many others.
My favorite stories other than Joseph Conrad's is "The Song of Welsh Women" by Andre Suares and "Wordsworth's Valley in Wartime" by Mrs. Humphrey Ward and my favorite poem is "The Little Children" by W D Howells.
This book is so unique, and there is such a powerhouse of talent displayed therein, that I intend to keep it on easy access. It is available at archive.org.
Displaying 1 of 1 review