The Old Maid (The 'Fifties): Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
The Old Maid (The 'Fifties): author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.
The Old Maid (The 'Fifties) is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Wharton, Edith (1862–1937).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Old Maid (The 'Fifties)" by Edith Wharton is a novel written during the early 20th century. Set in the affluent New York society of the 1850s, it explores themes of social status, love, and the constraints placed upon women. The narrative introduces key figures, particularly Delia Ralston and her cousin Charlotte Lovell, navigating the expectations and limitations of their time, with a focus on familial relationships and the pressures to conform to societal norms. The opening of the story presents a vivid depiction of New York's upper class, particularly the Ralston family, which embodies both wealth and a strong adherence to tradition. Delia, a young matron, reflects on her marriage, her social standing, and her role within the family. Meanwhile, her cousin Charlotte is grappling with the potential for spinsterhood, made more urgent by her troubled past and a secret that complicates her relationship with societal expectations. As the two cousins interact, the narrative hints at deeper conflicts and emotional struggles, particularly surrounding love, duty, and the sacrifices women make in pursuit of both.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Old Maid (The 'Fifties)
- Author credits: Wharton, Edith (1862–1937)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Birthmothers -- Fiction
- Cousins -- Fiction
- Domestic fiction
- Illegitimate children -- Fiction
- New York (N.Y.) -- Fiction
- Psychological fiction
- Single women -- Fiction
- Weddings -- Fiction
Gutenberg collections
- Category: American Literature
- Category: Novels
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View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.
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