Gilded Age Literature 101
Novel Pairings University is on the main feed as we get ready for #WhartonInWinter
While we’re busy behind the scenes prepping for our big J-Term semester of closely reading Edith Wharton’s Custom of the County, we thought it would be a great time for all readers and listeners to enjoy one of the many classes we offer through our Patreon community. Today on the main feed, all our listeners will get to sample what a Novel Pairings University class is like, with a full episode dedicated to Gilded Age Literature: Entering Edith Wharton's World.
In today’s class we’ll talk about key authorial figures of the Gilded Age, historical events and social movements that shaped this period, how they connect to today, and the more grandiose aspects that give this period its weighty name. We never leave a class without generating more questions to ponder and consider, which is one reason why we love these deep dives—they help shape our reading of any great classic work. We’re excited to hear what questions you might have about Wharton, the Gilded Age, and this literary period after listening to today’s discussion.
More Links
If you’re interested in another deep-dive history lesson on the rise of industrialization in the United States and its impact on American Life, check out the PBS documentary The Gilded Age.
For those interested in Wharton’s more confessional material that examines her process as a writer that was published in The Atlantic, look no further.
We touch upon the newspaper world from this period and the way it differed from how we think of modern journalism. This blog from Stanford University does a great job of explaining different facets of print media during this lavish era.
It’s true that Wharton’s Age of Innocence almost lost out on winning the Pulitzer Prize to Sinclair Lewis after some contention between the prize committee and its board. This article from Literary Hub outlines the controversy itself and is almost as good as any gossip column of the time.
Curious about the ways Hollywood is reframing conversations around the upper echelons of society? Check out this Variety article that discusses how Black opulence is lighting up the silver screen with the new iteration of Gossip Girl and HBO’s own Gilded Age.
Coming Up Next Week
Next week we’ll be back on the main feed with a Short Story Club episode on "The Garden of Forking Paths," a postmodern short story by Argentinian writer Jorge Luis Borges. As a reminder, we will not be hosting a book club for December to give ourselves time to prep for recapping. Instead, we will read "The Garden of Forking Paths" and discuss it in the Discord #shortstoryclub thread for our Patreon members.
You can find a free online copy of the Borges story HERE. Stay tuned for a full calendar of our January and February events SOON.
Join us on Patreon!
If you loved today’s episode and would like to read more closely with our Novel Pairings picks, we would love to have you join one of the nerdiest (and friendliest) spaces on the internet—our Patreon! Our Classics Club is the place to be for all things literary as we explore the literary landscape through weekly bonus episodes, NPU classes, and our monthly book club.
Subscriptions start at just $10 a month, and annual subscriptions receive a 10% discount. Head over to patreon.com/novelpairings to sign up today!
Final Words
We hope you enjoyed class from the main feed today. We’d love to hear more about what fascinates you about the Gilded Age and what you’re looking forward to with #WhartonInWinter fast approaching.
Until then, we declare after all, there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of anything than of a book.
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