If you enjoy reading novels by Edith Wharton then you might also like the following authors:
Henry James was an American-born author known for his detailed exploration of human relationships and social pressures. If you enjoy Edith Wharton’s work, you might like his novel “The Portrait of a Lady.”
The story follows Isabel Archer, a young, independent woman who inherits a fortune and faces a series of choices about love and personal freedom.
Her journey takes her from the quiet life of New York to the elegance of European society, where she encounters characters who are charming but not always trustworthy. The book offers a deep look at how decisions can shape a life and the costs of personal independence.
Jane Austen writes stories that explore relationships, class, and the ways society shapes people’s lives. If you enjoy Edith Wharton’s works, you might appreciate Austen’s sharp look at social conventions and human nature.
In “Pride and Prejudice,” Elizabeth Bennet navigates her lively family dynamics and her own first perceptions of people, particularly Mr. Darcy, a man whose reserved nature hides a deeper character.
The story unfolds with misunderstandings, candid conversations, and moments where characters have to reckon with their own flaws. Austen creates a world where wit and emotion intertwine in every interaction.
E.M. Forster wrote with a sharp focus on social class, relationships, and personal ideals. His book “Howards End” is about two sisters, Margaret and Helen Schlegel, whose lives intersect with the wealthy and traditional Wilcox family.
The story touches on clashes of values, challenges of personal connections, and the meaning of home.
Margaret’s connection to the Wilcoxes leads to unexpected events, including her relationship with Mr. Wilcox and the unfolding role of the country house, Howards End, which becomes central to the story.
Fans of Edith Wharton might enjoy Forster’s exploration of social boundaries and the understated drama in his characters’ lives.
Theodore Dreiser, an American writer, is known for stories about ordinary people navigating the challenges of ambition and society. His novel “Sister Carrie” tells the story of a young woman, Carrie Meeber, who moves to Chicago to chase a better life.
She quickly learns how tempting success can be and how it can pull people in unexpected directions. The book also explores the downfall of George Hurstwood, a man who risks everything to be with her.
With its focus on the shifting fortunes of its characters and the harsh realities of life in the city, the novel paints a vivid picture of ambition and failure in turn-of-the-century America.
Willa Cather is an author who writes about life in early America, focusing on the struggles and triumphs of ordinary people.
One of her most well-known books, “My Ántonia,” tells the story of Jim Burden and his deep connection to Ántonia Shimerda, the daughter of an immigrant family trying to make a life on the Nebraska prairie.
The book paints vivid scenes of life on the frontier, filled with hardworking families, the harsh beauty of nature, and the bonds that form between people. It’s a story about resilience, friendship, and how the past shapes us.
If you enjoy Edith Wharton’s attention to character and relationships, you might find this book engaging.
Elizabeth Bowen wrote with a sharp eye for human relationships and the way people interact in changing times. One of her best-known works, “The Death of the Heart,” centers on a teenage girl named Portia.
Sent to live with her cold and distant relatives in London after being orphaned, she becomes entangled in an uneasy love affair with a charming but careless man. The story carefully unfolds the ways longing, betrayal, and isolation leave emotional marks on people.
Bowen captures the mood of the city and the unspoken tensions within families with a style that’s reflective and vivid. Fans of Edith Wharton might appreciate Bowen’s focus on the nuances of class, emotion, and the private struggles of her characters.
Virginia Woolf was an English writer known for crafting stories that explore the inner lives of her characters. In her book “Mrs. Dalloway,” she tells the story of Clarissa Dalloway as she prepares for a party at her home.
The book moves through a single day and shifts between different characters’ perspectives. Clarissa reflects on her past choices, while a young war veteran struggles with trauma. The way their lives and thoughts overlap gives the story a richly human feel.
If you enjoy Edith Wharton’s focus on society and personal conflict, you might find Woolf’s style intriguing.
F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote stories that captured the glamour and struggles of the upper class in the early 20th century. His book “The Great Gatsby” paints a picture of wealth, ambition, and heartbreak in the Roaring Twenties.
It follows Jay Gatsby, a self-made millionaire, who throws extravagant parties to catch the attention of Daisy Buchanan, a woman he loves but can never truly have.
The lavish settings and complex characters echo some of Edith Wharton’s themes about privilege and longing, making Fitzgerald an author worth exploring for fans of her work.
George Eliot was the pen name of Mary Ann Evans, a British author known for her detailed portraits of people and their relationships within society. Her novel “Middlemarch” is a rich exploration of life in a small English town during the 19th century.
The story focuses on several characters, including Dorothea Brooke, a woman who dreams of making a difference in the world but finds herself in a restrictive marriage. Alongside her story, there’s a young doctor, Tertius Lydgate, whose ambition meets unexpected obstacles.
The book weaves together personal struggles and societal expectations, painting a vivid picture of the challenges people face when they try to follow their ideals.
Anthony Trollope was a 19th-century English novelist who wrote about society, relationships, and the complexities of everyday life. One of his standout books is “The Way We Live Now.”
It tells the story of a wealthy financier, Augustus Melmotte, who arrives in London with shady business dealings and grand ambitions. The story explores greed, power, and corruption as various characters get caught up in Melmotte’s schemes.
Other plotlines include marriage struggles, unrequited love, and social climbing, showing how different lives intersect in a single, bustling society. Trollope’s characters feel real, flawed, and layered, which makes the story feel alive.
If you enjoy books that dig into class, ambition, and personal desires, his works might pull you in.
Evelyn Waugh was a British author known for his sharp wit and satirical take on society. If you enjoy Edith Wharton, you might want to check out Waugh’s “A Handful of Dust.” The book follows the unraveling of Tony Last’s life, a man devoted to his crumbling family estate.
His wife, Brenda, becomes infatuated with another man, causing a series of betrayals and tragedies. The story moves from the English countryside to the wilds of South America, where Tony’s journey takes a dark and unexpected turn.
Waugh’s ability to highlight social pretensions and personal flaws makes his work memorable.
Kate Chopin was an American author known for her insightful exploration of identity, freedom, and societal expectations. Her book “The Awakening” tells the story of Edna Pontellier, a woman who begins to question her role as a wife and mother in 19th-century Louisiana.
During a summer at Grand Isle, surrounded by the sea and the influence of new acquaintances, Edna starts to embrace her own desires and independence. The novel captures her inner struggle and the bold choices she makes as she searches for a sense of self.
Fans of Edith Wharton might appreciate Chopin’s focus on women confronting societal norms.
Armistead Maupin is known for his rich storytelling and keen insight into human relationships. One of his most loved works, “Tales of the City,” introduces readers to the lives of people living in 1970s San Francisco.
The story follows Mary Ann Singleton, a young woman from Ohio, as she moves to the city in search of independence and excitement.
At the heart of the book is the eccentric boarding house run by the mysterious Anna Madrigal, a place where tenants from all walks of life form unlikely connections.
The book weaves together their struggles, secrets, and friendships while capturing the changing world around them.
David Lodge is an English author known for his sharp takes on academic life and human relationships.
One of his well-known books, “Changing Places,” tells the story of two university professors, Morris Zapp and Philip Swallow, who exchange positions at their respective colleges—one in England and one in California.
The swap leads to surprising culture clashes, ridiculous misunderstandings, and unexpected transformations in their personal and professional lives. The novel has a witty look at the academic world and explores the contrasts between American and British culture.
It’s written with a mix of humor and insight that feels personal and engaging without being heavy.
Eudora Welty was a writer known for capturing Southern life with rich detail and a sharp sense of observation. Her book, “The Optimist’s Daughter,” tells the story of Laurel, a woman who returns to Mississippi after her father’s death.
While back in her childhood home, she grapples with grief, memories of her mother, and tensions with her stepmother. The book explores family relationships and how the past shapes who we become.
It has a quiet, thoughtful quality, focusing on moments that feel deeply personal and universally true.