The Touchstone

The Touchstone by Edith Wharton is a novel that explores the complexities of love, relationships, and social status in late 19th century America. The story follows the lives of Stephen Glennard, a struggling writer, and his former lover, Margaret Aubyn, who is now a wealthy and respected socialite. Glennard, desperate for money and recognition, decides to publish a collection of love letters that Margaret had written to him years ago. However, this decision sets off a chain of events that forces Glennard to confront the consequences of his actions and the true nature of his relationship with Margaret.As the story unfolds, Wharton delves into the themes of love, sacrifice, and morality, examining the ways in which societal expectations and personal desires can clash and cause pain. Through Glennard and Margaret's relationship, the novel also explores the power dynamics between men and women, and the ways in which women were often trapped by the constraints of their gender and social class.Overall, The Touchstone is a thought-provoking and emotionally charged novel that offers a nuanced portrayal of love and relationships in turn-of-the-century America. Wharton's prose is elegant and precise, and her characters are complex and fully realized, making this book a must-read for fans of literary fiction.It pressed against him at every turn. He told himself that this was because there was no escape from the visible evidences of his act. The ""Letters"" confronted him everywhere. People who had never opened a book discussed them with critical reservations; to have read them had become a social obligation in circles to which literature never penetrates except in a personal guise.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.