Edith Wharton herself drew many connections between her two novellas--"Ethan Frome and "Summer--which address the consequences of forbidden sexual passion and the tragedy of thwarted dreams.

While Wharton continues to be one of the most frequently taught American writers, this New Riverside Edition volume is the first to pair these texts along with supporting critical and contextual materials.

Supplementary materials include related writing about the Berkshires, essays about cultural norms in New England, and critical essays.