A Son at the Front

In her novel A Son at the Front, Edith Wharton provides a vivid portrayal of American expatriate life in Paris during World War I, exploring the complexities of a modern family and the realities of life in the city. The outbreak of war disrupts the family's dynamic, forcing George, born in France, to report for military service despite his parents' beliefs. The novel reflects the shock of the war, the early hope for a quick victory, the devastating human cost, and the relief when the United States enters the conflict.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 23 March 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press

The war raged on, life continued, and Paris continued to thrive. In her sole novel, A Son at the Front, Edith Wharton paints a vivid portrait of American expatriate life in Paris, as well as a compelling portrayal of a complex modern family. The painter John Campton is divorced from George's mother, Julia, and although Julia's second husband, Anderson Brant, a wealthy banker, has been a devoted stepfather to George, Campton resents his presence in George's life. This family drama is shattered by the outbreak of fighting, which forces George, born in France, to report for military service despite his parents' belief that he should be exempted. Reflecting Wharton's own experiences, A Son at the Front captures the shock of the war's outbreak, the initial hope of a swift Allied victory, the devastating human cost of the war, and the relief when, belatedly, the United States enters the conflict. The novel's tone reflects the realities of life in Paris, and the profound disillusionment of the post-war period, standing as a significant part of Wharton's oeuvre and a landmark in the literature of the First World War.

Weight: 226g
Dimension: 129 x 197 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198859550