Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton is a very old classic novel first published in 1911. It’s a small novel at 77 pages in my copy but it left a huge impression on me. So much so that I’m looking into reading more of Edith Wharton’s novels for the Classics Challenge over at Trish’s Reading Nook. If they are as well written as this one I’ve found myself a favorite author.
Edith Wharton’s writing is wonderful, her words just flowing onto the page. Her descriptions of the area; the snow and freezing cold in particular, the people, and the drama playing out so vivid that I felt sure I had been transported directly into the story. I have to admit I’m not always a lover of classics. I find a lot of them a bit over my head but this one just pulled me right into the story and I found myself savoring every word, even going back and rereading some passages because I just liked the way they sounded to me.
The story is mainly about Ethan Frome along with his wife Zeena and her young cousin Mattie. Ethan never seems to be able to get out of life in Starkfield, Massachusetts even though it seems his life may have held promise had his parents not become ill. As it turns out Ethan ends up married to Zeena, a cousin who had come to nurse his mother when she was ill. Zeena, who is a hypochondriac, makes his life miserable. That is until Zeena’s cousin Mattie comes to stay and help around the house.
Ethan falls hopelessly in love with Mattie. Mattie is so different from Zeena; being pretty, cheerful and talkative compared to Zeena’s miserable silences. However, Zeena suspects something and starts watching them more closely; her jealousy and anger coming to the surface. Ethan is tormented with what to do. He is extremely unhappy with Zeena. Her whole life revolves around whatever new ailment she has and Ethan doesn’t have the money to support whatever new treatments she thinks she needs. He also can’t bear the thought of having her send Mattie away.
Ethan Frome is a novel filled with hopelessness, regret and deep emotion. Of a man trapped in a life he doesn’t want. It shows us how we need to stop and look at the choices we’re making in our lives. What will these choices mean to us years from now? What measures will you take to make your life better? What will be the price of those measures?
Here are a few of my favorite quotes. There are so many in this novel that it’s hard to choose…
- ‘The village lay under two feet of snow, with drifts at the windy corners. In a sky of iron the points of the Dipper hung like icicles and Orion flashed his cold fires. The moon had set, but the night was so transparent that the white house-fronts between the elms looked gray against the snow, clumps of bushes made black stains on it, and the basement windows of the church sent shafts of yellow light far across the endless undulations.’ (pg 11)
- ‘Against the dark background of the kitchen she stood up tall and angular, one hand drawing a quilted counterpane to her flat breast, while the other held a lamp. The light, on a level with her chin, drew out of the darkness her puckered throat and the projecting wrist of the hand that clutched the quilt, and deepened fantastically the hollows and prominences of her high-boned face under its ring of crimping-pins. To Ethan, still in the rosy haze of his hour with Mattie, the sight came with the intense precision of the last dream before waking. He felt as if he had never before known what his wife looked like.’ (pg 22)
- ‘Deep quite sank on the room. The clock ticked above the dresser, a piece of charred wood fell now and then in the stove, and the faint sharp scent of the geraniums mingled with the odour of Ethan’s smoke, which began to throw a blue haze about the lamp and to hang its greyish cobwebs in the shadowy corners of the room.’ (pg 38)
Doesn’t that last quote make you feel as though you’re sitting in that room, listening, smelling and seeing? There are many such as that throughout the book. I would recommend this book to newcomers of the Classics as it’s easy to read and really is a good story although sad. I’m sure those that read the classics have already delved into this one. I know for myself I’m really glad I picked Ethan Frome to read. Next on the list for my second classic is The Secret Garden.
If you’ve read this, leave me your link and I’ll add it to my post. Plus I’d love to hear other’s thoughts on this little but powerful book.
I read it years ago, so I haven’t posted anything about it, but I can also say ditto to how good it is. I love to see posts on great classics! Thanks for your review!
Great review, Dar. I haven’t read this classic so thanks for going into detail.
Great review! One of my all time favorite classics and Edith Wharton book!
I’ve only recently made a commitment to the classics. I will add this to my list…hopefully I can get it free via Kindle!
Awesome review Dar.. Yes.. that last quote certainly puts you right in that room. I can’t wait to give this one a shot.
I read this in high school and then again as an adult, and it left a huge impression on me. There’s a movie, too (Liam Neeson in the lead) but I like the images in my mind’s eye and don’t want to replace them with the Hollywood version!
Seems like a good classic to start with. Since I have only read 2 in my life…I really should enter and a classics challenge and really try. So thanks for the review
Oo that does sound good. I’ve been wanting to read that one. Thanks!
Those passages are just beautiful. Thank you for the review, Dar. I’ll definitely look for this.
Great review. This sounds like a good read. I havent read this one yet, but maybe one day. I enjoy the classics.
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Great review. I read this years ago and your post reminded me of how much I like this book.
I never got around to reading this one, but your review makes me want to give it a try. It sounds like a meaningful story. Thanks for another terrific review.
Great review! I love Edith Wharton and Ethan Frome feels very different from her other books. I’ll be reading Summer for the Classics Challenge.
Great review! I love Edith Wharton and, as well as the novels, she wrote some wonderful ghost stories.
I just saw this at the used book store the other day. I knew I should have picked it up! Great review as always 🙂
I read this one last year and thought it was extremely moving and sad. Wharton does do a great job with the tone of the story as well, everything seems gloomy and cold. A great read. I especially liked the surprise at the end.
I’m reading this for the challenge, too! The only other Wharton book I’ve read is The Age of Innocence and I liked it (except a few things, but I won’t give anything away). I’ve had this one sitting on my shelf forever, and I must have a large print copy because mine is 175 pages long! 🙂 Can’t wait to get to know Ethan better–sounds like a really moving story.
I don’t believe I’ve ever read her before! It sounds like a very powerful book 🙂
This is great to know! I haven’t seen any reviews of this, but I bought it at a Library Sale last year know I could get through a short classic. 🙂 It’s on my TBR Shelf and hope to get to it this year.
mjmbecky, thanks 🙂 I'm anxious to read another by her.
Mary, thanks 🙂 This was my first of hers but won't be the last. I picked up quite a few of her books last week.
Suzanne, this is now one of my fave classics too!
Sandy, I started making more of an effort to read classics last year with Trish's Classics challenge and I'm glad for it.
Toni, the language in this book was so descriptive. Really great to read although the story isn't a really happy one.
Lisa, I'm going to get the movie out from the library just because I'm curious. I had it out a while back but never had a chance to get to it.
Blodeuedd, another good classic to start with is To Kill a Mockingbird.
Nymeth, you had wanted to read Ethan Frome didn't you. I bet a review of this book from you would be incredible.
Zibilee, yes it was moving and sad. I agree that Wharton puts you right into the atmosphere of the story really well.
Trish, I can't wait to see a review of this from you. I looked at copies of this book and they all have different page numbers. Mine was really small print with no bells and whistles so maybe that's why. I would like to get myself a nicer copy to keep as this is one I think I'll probably read again eventually.
Everyone else, thanks for popping by and leaving a comment. If you do get a chance to read this, let me know. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
My copy is so old, Dar, I'm not sure it will survive a reading. 🙂 So old that the cost of the book was 1.25!! I'm thinking I might try to read it at the end of the month, but I'm seriously so behind with everything. Yikes!! Where does all that time go?
Trish, as you can see I'm really behind in comments as well. lol. I hope you get to read Ethan Frome soon. I'd love to hear your thoughts on it. You know it's still pretty cheap to buy. I paid 2.95 for mine I think although I'd love to get myself a copy to keep that has a nicer cover.