The Age of Desire
The Age of Desire brings to life one of our most beloved writers, Edith Wharton, whose own story was as complex and nuanced as that of any of the heroines’ she created.
Jennie Fields is the author of three other novels, Lily Beach, Crossing Brooklyn Ferry and The Middle Ages. More
A lush, involving novel set in the early years of the 20th century, The Age of Desire is the story of writer Edith Wharton’s illicit affair and sexual awakening with journalist Morton Fullerton. More
See photos of Edith Wharton, Morton Fullerton and Anna Bahlmann, and learn more about Edith Wharton’s remarkable life. More
- Reviews
Delicate and imaginative.
Delicate and imaginative. Fields’s love and respect for all her characters and her care in telling their stories shines through. Publishers Weekly
Perceptive...Deeply felt
"Perceptive... Deeply felt... Sheds welcome light on the little-known life of a famous woman." BooklistA secret side of Wharton
“Fields brings a secret side of Wharton to life, and shows us a woman whose elegant façade concealed a turbulent sensuality.” —DAISY GOODWIN, author of The Last HeiressAstonishing tenderness and immediacy
“With astonishing tenderness and immediacy, The Age of Desire portrays the interwoven lives of Edith Wharton and Anna Bahlmann, her governess, secretary, and close friend. By focusing on these two women from vastly different backgrounds, Jennie Fields miraculously illuminates an entire era…. I gained insight into both Wharton’s monumental work and her personal struggles—and I was filled with regret that I’d finished reading so soon.” —Lauren Belfer, author of City of Light and A Fierce RadiancePage turning
“In the vein of Loving Frank or The Paris Wife, Jennie Fields has created a page-turning period piece. Fields portrays a woman whose life was hardly innocence and mirth, but passionate, complex and more mysterious than one might ever imagine.” —Mary Morris, author of Nothing to Declare and Revenge