Edith Wharton (January 24, 1862 – August 11, 1937) was a prominent American novelist, short story writer, and designer who is perhaps best remembered for her keen insight into the social mores and restrictions of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born into a wealthy New York family, Wharton was privy to the manners and expectations of high society, which she deftly explored in her literature...