Edith Wharton, born Edith Newbold Jones on January 24, 1862, emerged as a prominent Pulitzer Prize-winning American novelist, short story writer, and designer. With a profound ability to draw upon her insider's knowledge of the upscale New York "aristocracy," she portrayed the lives and morals of the Gilded Age with unparalleled realism. In 1921, she etched her name in history as the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction for her novel The Age of Innocence. Her induction into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 1996 further cemented her legacy.

Wharton's literary canon includes other well-known works such as The House of Mirth, the novella Ethan Frome, and several notable ghost stories. Fluent in French among other languages, her books were often published in both French and English, showcasing her linguistic prowess.

Edith's early life was marked by wealth and privilege so pronounced that her family inspired the phrase "keeping up with the Joneses." The youngest of three children, she spent her formative years touring Europe with her parents, followed by a privileged upbringing in New York and Newport, Rhode Island. Her literary talent was evident early on; by the age of eighteen, she had written a novella and published poetry in the Atlantic Monthly.

After a failed engagement, Edith married Edward Wharton, a wealthy sportsman. Despite their similar backgrounds and shared love for travel, the marriage proved to be unsuccessful. Many of Wharton's novels explore the theme of unhappy marriages, offering insight into her personal experiences.