Controversial when it was first published in 1907 for its frank treatment of second marriages, desire, divorce, drug addiction, and mercy killing, Edith Wharton's The Fruit of the Tree addresses themes that remain strikingly relevant for today's readers.
Set in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts during the height of the progressive era, the book centers on heroine Justine Brent, a professionally trained nurse who is called upon to attend her childhood friend Bessy Westmore, a rich textile mill owner left paralyzed by a riding accident. When Bessy begs to be released from a life of intense pain and suffering, Justine debates the moral issues and makes the difficult choice to administer a lethal dose of morphine. After Bessy dies, Justine falls in love with her widowed husband and joins him in his efforts to create better conditions for the factory workers. Questions surrounding Bessy's death, however, haunt their relationship, and Justine learns first-hand the tragic consequences of social idealism and reform.
Full of plot twists and turns and finely drawn characters, The Fruit of the Tree is a must read for anyone who has ever fallen under the spell of Wharton's superb prose.
Set in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts during the height of the progressive era, the book centers on heroine Justine Brent, a professionally trained nurse who is called upon to attend her childhood friend Bessy Westmore, a rich textile mill owner left paralyzed by a riding accident. When Bessy begs to be released from a life of intense pain and suffering, Justine debates the moral issues and makes the difficult choice to administer a lethal dose of morphine. After Bessy dies, Justine falls in love with her widowed husband and joins him in his efforts to create better conditions for the factory workers. Questions surrounding Bessy's death, however, haunt their relationship, and Justine learns first-hand the tragic consequences of social idealism and reform.
Full of plot twists and turns and finely drawn characters, The Fruit of the Tree is a must read for anyone who has ever fallen under the spell of Wharton's superb prose.
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Used availability for Edith Wharton's The Fruit of the Tree
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Hardback Editions
January 2009 : Hardback
| Title: The Fruit of the Tree Author(s): Edith Wharton ISBN: 1-4378-8748-1 / 978-1-4378-8748-8 Publisher: Indypublish.com Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
August 2008 : Hardback
| Title: The Fruit of the Tree Author(s): Edith Wharton ISBN: 0-554-29055-3 / 978-0-554-29055-3 (USA edition) Publisher: BiblioLife Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
August 2008 : Hardback
| Title: The Fruit of the Tree Author(s): Edith Wharton ISBN: 0-554-38358-6 / 978-0-554-38358-3 (USA edition) Publisher: BiblioLife Availability: Amazon Amazon CA More details... |
April 2008 : Hardback
| Title: The Fruit of the Tree Author(s): Edith Wharton ISBN: 1-60664-997-3 / 9781606649978 (USA edition) Publisher: Aegypan Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
July 2007 : Hardback
| Title: The Fruit of the Tree Author(s): Edith Wharton ISBN: 0-548-01665-8 / 978-0-548-01665-7 (USA edition) Publisher: Kessinger Publishing Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
January 2007 : Hardback
| Title: The Fruit of the Tree Author(s): Edith Wharton ISBN: 1-4280-5224-0 / 978-1-4280-5224-6 (USA edition) Publisher: IndyPublish.com Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
September 2006 : Hardback
| Title: The Fruit of the Tree Author(s): Edith, Wharton ISBN: 1-55742-979-0 / 9781557429797 (USA edition) Publisher: Wildside Press Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
January 2000 : Hardback
| Title: Fruit of the Tree Hbk Author(s): Edith Wharton ISBN: 1-55553-451-1 / 9781555534516 (USA edition) Publisher: University of British Columbia Press Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
June 1997 : Hardback
| Title: The Fruit of the Tree Author(s): Edith Wharton ISBN: 0-7351-0000-4 / 978-0-7351-0000-8 (USA edition) Publisher: Replica Books Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
1937 : Hardback
| Title: The Fruit of the Tree Author(s): Edith Wharton Publisher: Charles Scribner's Sons Availability: Amazon UK More details... |
July 1919 : Library Binding
| Title: The Fruit of the Tree (The Collected Works of Edith Wharton) Author(s): Edith Wharton ISBN: 1-58201-978-9 / 9781582019789 (USA edition) Publisher: Classic Books Availability: Amazon Amazon UK More details... |
January 1914 : Hardback
| Title: Fruit of the Tree Author(s): Edith Wharton Publisher: SCRIBNERS Availability: Amazon More details... |
Paperback Editions
January 2009 : Paperback
| Title: The Fruit of the Tree Author(s): Edith Wharton ISBN: 1-4378-8747-3 / 978-1-4378-8747-1 Publisher: Indypublish.com Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
March 2008 : Paperback
| Title: The Fruit of the Tree Author(s): Edith Wharton ISBN: 1-60312-547-7 / 9781603125475 (USA edition) Publisher: Aegypan Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
January 2008 : Paperback
| Title: The Fruit of the Tree Author(s): Edith Wharton ISBN: 1-4346-6826-6 / 978-1-4346-6826-4 Publisher: BiblioLife Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
January 2008 : Paperback
| Title: The Fruit of the Tree Author(s): Edith Wharton ISBN: 1-4346-6827-4 / 978-1-4346-6827-1 Publisher: BiblioLife Availability: Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
October 2007 : Paperback
| Title: The Fruit of the Tree Author(s): Edith Wharton ISBN: 0-554-08037-0 / 978-0-554-08037-6 (USA edition) Publisher: BiblioBazaar Availability: Amazon Amazon UK More details... |
October 2007 : Paperback
| Title: The Fruit of the Tree Author(s): Edith Wharton ISBN: 0-554-18741-8 / 978-0-554-18741-9 (USA edition) Publisher: BiblioBazaar Availability: Amazon Amazon UK More details... |
January 2007 : Paperback
| Title: The Fruit of the Tree Author(s): Edith Wharton ISBN: 1-4280-5230-5 / 978-1-4280-5230-7 (USA edition) Publisher: IndyPublish.com Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
September 2006 : Paperback
| Title: The Fruit of the Tree Author(s): Edith Wharton ISBN: 1-55742-978-2 / 9781557429780 (USA edition) Publisher: Wildside Press Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
January 2006 : Paperback
| Title: The Fruit of the Tree Author(s): Edith Wharton ISBN: 1-84408-353-5 / 9781844083534 (UK edition) Publisher: Virago Press Ltd Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
June 2004 : Paperback
| Title: The Fruit of the Tree (Literary Classics) Author(s): Edith Wharton ISBN: 1-59102-194-4 / 9781591021940 (USA edition) Publisher: Prometheus Books Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
April 2004 : Paperback
| Title: The Fruit of the Tree Author(s): Edith Wharton ISBN: 1-4179-1181-6 / 978-1-4179-1181-3 (USA edition) Publisher: Kessinger Publishing Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
October 2002 : Paperback
| Title: The Fruit of the Tree Author(s): Edith Wharton ISBN: 0-543-69019-9 / 978-0-543-69019-7 (USA edition) Publisher: BookSurge Publishing Availability: Amazon Amazon UK More details... |
January 2000 : Paperback
| Title: Fruit of the Tree Pbk Author(s): Edith Wharton ISBN: 1-55553-450-3 / 9781555534509 (USA edition) Publisher: University of British Columbia Press Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
June 1984 : Paperback
| Title: The Fruit of the Tree (Virago modern classics) Author(s): Edith Wharton ISBN: 0-86068-401-6 / 978-0-86068-401-5 (UK edition) Publisher: Virago Press Ltd Availability: Amazon UK More details... |
Audio Editions
January 1991 : Audio Cassette
| Title: The Fruit of the Tree (Classic Books on Cassettes Collection) Author(s): Edith Wharton ISBN: 1-55685-176-6 / 9781556851766 (USA edition) Publisher: Audio Book Contractors, Inc. Availability: Amazon Amazon CA More details... |
Other Editions
February 2008 : Kindle edition
| Title: The Fruit of the Tree Author(s): Edith Wharton Publisher: B&R Samizdat Express Availability: Amazon More details... |
December 2007 : Kindle edition
| Title: THE FRUIT of the TREE Author(s): Edith Wharton Publisher: Oak Grove Availability: Amazon More details... |
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