The Touchstone [Paperback]

Edith Wharton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 21, 2008 | ISBN-10: 0554509350 | ISBN-13: 978-0554509358

This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curated for quality. Quality assurance was conducted on each of these books in an attempt to remove books with imperfections introduced by the digitization process. Though we have made best efforts - the books may have occasional errors that do not impede the reading experience. We believe this work is culturally important and have elected to bring the book back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. This text refers to the Bibliobazaar edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 162 pages
• Publisher: BiblioBazaar (August 21, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0554509350
• ISBN-13: 978-0554509358
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,955,371 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Quick And Enjoyable, February 12, 2009

By 

Dave_42 "Dave_42" (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Touchstone (Paperback)

"The Touchstone" is Edith Wharton's second book and it was published in 1900. It was also published under the title "A Gift From The Grave". Her previous literary effort was a collection of short stories titled "The Greater Inclination" and this is a longer story, roughly what we would today call a novella. The author takes an interesting premise, and creates an engaging story which is easy to read and flows quickly. The reader doesn't want to put this book down.

The premise of the story is that a man (Glennard) of limited means is looking for a way to earn money so that he can afford to marry the woman he loves (Alexa Trent). Earlier in his life, he was loved by Mrs. Aubyn, who has become a famous author and since died. Thus he is in possession of the letters she wrote him, and due to her fame he could publish them, but that would not be proper in his mind, and he feels that he would not be worthy of Alexa Trent if he did such a thing.

Of course, the reader immediately knows that he is going to have to do this unthinkable thing, and the interesting part of the story is how it affects Glennard and his relationship with Alexa Trent, and with Flemel, the friend from whom he seeks the advice initially, and who helps him get the letters published. Glennard destroys one relationship, and nearly destroys the other, and often lashes out irrationally when the book is discussed. He is constantly trying to figure out who knows, and who Flemel might have told, and if his wife has figured it out, even when he tries to make it obvious that he has done the deed.

It is an interesting story about the turmoil which people go through when circumstances force them to act in a way which they wouldn't ordinarily do. Many people today might not understand why Glennard is even troubled by the idea of publishing the correspondence of someone who has passed on, but it certainly works well for the period in which it was written. This is even better than her first book, though I don't think it merits five stars.