December already?! Today, I visited the home of the writer Edith Wharton (1862-1937). She was born into upper-class New York “aristocracy” who went on to become an award-winning author. Her most popular novels are “The House of Mirth,” “Ethan Frome,” and “The Age of Innocence,” for which she was the first woman to win a Pulitzer Prize for Literature. She was also the first woman to receive an honor doctorate of letters from Yale.
She was also a garden and interior designer and wrote several design books. The home I visited today, The Mount in Lenox, Massachusetts, was an example of her design principles and her primary residence from 1902-1911, after which she moved permanently to France (without her husband from whom she was ultimately divorced).
When she moved, she took all of her belongings with her, so the furnishings of the house are period appropriate but not hers except for the architectural details, paintings put into the walls, and 1500 of her personal collection of books that the foundation purchased for the home.
I saw this sign on the way, but luckily no bears.
where the Whartons would greet their guests
as a photo of Edith in the library
The painting is the original as it was put into the wall.
but Edith preferred to have more intimate gatherings
and conversations than typical long rectangular tables allow.
and two much older brothers above the bed
She wrote over 40 books, including novels,
short stories, poetry, and nonfiction.
The grounds are beautiful as well, and she designed the gardens. There is also a pet cemetery, as she and her husband had five dogs.
Peckish Travels 
One reply on “The Mount (12/1/24)”
Gee Wizz, how the other half’s lived 😁👍
S.J.B
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