x dismiss this message
Did you know you can edit this page?
-
Sign Into Shelfari
-
Choose something to edit
-
Save your contributions
see page history
Description edit
Ethan Frome works his unproductive farm and struggles to maintain a bearable existence with his difficult, suspicious and hypochondriac wife, Zeena. But when Zeena’s vivacious cousin enters their household as a “hired girl,” Ethan finds himself obsessed with her and with the possibilities for... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Summary edit
Ethan Frome is the story of a man living in a loveless marriage. He is downtroden and melancholy until the day he meets his wife's young and beautiful cousin Mattie Silver. Mattie will be staying at the Frome's New England Farm, and in the passing year, Ethan becomes a new man as Mattie brings... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)
Characters/People edit
- Ethan Frome: The main character - a strong, honorable man stuck in a loveless, dreary marriage and a tragedy-ridden life.
- Zenobia 'Zeena' Frome, formerly Pierce: Ethan's chronic-hypochondriac and self-focused wife. She is quick to look for a cure to her "illness" while hurting Ethan in the process.
- Andrew Hale: A resident of Starkfield
- Mattie Silver: Zeena's cousin who comes to assist the Frome household in their daily lives, especially in Zeena's alleged illness.
- Mrs. Ned Hale: Andrew Hale's wife, resident of Starkfield
- Harmon Gow: Stagecoach driver who travels to/from Shackleford
- Dr. Buck: Zeena's new doctor.
- Daniel Byrne: A local carter in Starkfield.
- Michael Eady: Rich owner of the Irish grocery in Starkfield
- The Narrator: An unknown person, perhaps Edith Wharton herself, who begins and ends the novel by providing information on how she discovered Ethan Frome.
- Denis Eady: The suitor of Mattie Silver, son of Michael Eady
- Jotham Powell: The hired man on the Frome farm. He helps Ethan on the exhausting farm duties.
- Mrs. Homan: Add a description of this character.
- Aunt Martha Pierce: Zeena's aunt who gave her the red glass pickle dish.
- Ruth Varnum: A young woman caught kissing her lover in the trees outside her house.
Quotes edit
-
“When a man's been sitting round like a hulk for twenty years or more, seeing things that want doing, it eats inter him, and he loses his grit.”
Harmon Gow -
“I don't see's there's much difference between the Fromes up at the farm and the Fromes down in the graveyard; 'cept that down there they're all quiet and the women have got to hold their tongues.”
Mrs. Hale
Setting & Locations edit
First Sentence edit
I had the story, bit by bit, from various people, and, as generally happens in such cases, each time it was a different story.
Series & Lists edit
This is book 35 of 213 in Best English-Language Fiction of the 20th Century. (authoritative list)
This is book 14 of 4 in 100 Essential New England Books. (authoritative list)
This book is in The Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge. (community list)
This is book 98 of 101 in Penguin English Library. (publisher series)
This book is in Penguin Classic Deluxe Edition Book Covers. (community list)
This is book 752 of 1286 in 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. (authoritative list)
Authors & Contributors edit
- Edith Wharton (Author)
Other Contributors:
- Richard Thomas (Reader) - reads audio edition - New Millennium Audio
First Edition edit
Original Language: English
Publisher: Scribner's
Country: USA
Publication Date: 1911
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 160
Publisher: Scribner's
Country: USA
Publication Date: 1911
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 160
Classification edit
- Library of Congress: PS3545.H16
- Dewey: 813.52
Subjects edit
Popular Tags
See all 50 tags
Links to Supplemental Material edit
- Internet Movie Database: Ethan Frome (1993)
Books with Additional Background Information edit
Books Influenced by This Book edit
Books That Cite This Book edit
Amazon Customers Who Bought This Book Also Bought
We’re hiding the errata, movie connections, books that influenced this book and books cited by this book sections. If you would like to add content to them, you must first make them visible.
