The Pulitzer Prize winner’s novel “Summer” completely shattered the standards of love stories | Culture

in 1917 When Edith Wharton’s novel “Summer” was published, it became a sensation because of the openly explored theme of the awakening sexuality of a young girl. The author of “Ethan From” and the peerless social observer and chronicler has completely shattered the usual standards of love stories with this honest and realistic book.

The Pulitzer Prize winner herself considered “Summer” to be her favorite novel. More than a century later, the novel remains relevant.

This is a bright, summery, and at the same time painful, unforgettable story. A naive girl from a modest village meets an ambitious guy from a big city – and a passionate romance breaks out. The proud, independent, honorable Cherite Rojal is oppressed by the secret of her origins, especially following developing a heady relationship with the educated and well-mannered Lucius Harni. Can passionate love withstand the influence of nature and environment?

Summer is often compared to Ethan Frome, another Edith Wharton novel also set in New England, because it captivates with an intensity of equally strong but tempered feelings. The suggestive story of unfolding sexuality and illicit desires is striking in its modernity and multiplicity.

Patricija Tilvikaitė, head of projects and social networks at the publishing house “Books of Dreams”, is happy that during the year we manage to offer readers at least a few classic novels published for the first time: “Although we publish many new, popular works, we constantly try to look back to what is immortal. We want to offer this special one to those who have already read most of the classics published in Lithuanian and are waiting for new translations, not just old editions.

We are also looking for classic works that can encourage those who doubt whether they will like it or think that classics must necessarily be hard to read, tiring… We believe that books like “Summer” will become a must. part of the library of literary fans, will make life easier for philology students and will be a discovery for those who are looking for special, timeless stories.”

According to P. Tilvikaitė, classics require special care both in translating and editing. Virginia Woolf’s “Night and Day”, chosen as the best translation by readers in the Book of the Year elections held by 15min.lt, was translated by the same translator as Edith Wharton’s “Summer” (editor – Vaiva Markevičiūtė). Jūratė Žeimantienė, who also loves other books by Edith Wharton, is happy with this special novel: “It was interesting and in some sense easier to translate “Vasara” following “Ethan From”, because the connection between these novels is obvious.

Both are characterized by an extremely high concentration of feelings and an organic weaving of nature into the fabric of the work. Only in “Itane Frome” is the freezing and all-purifying cold, and in “Summer” – heat dazzling with plant juices, smells, and colors. What is unexpected in the latter novel is the symbolism. In literature since time immemorial, the mountain embodies bright aspirations, hope, renewal, and in “Summer” – dehumanization.”

According to literature professor Liz Boltz Ranfeld, Čeritė, the main character of Vasara, is a special character who leaves no one indifferent. “It encourages you to relive the eternal restlessness of waking youth, especially if you succumb to its rebellion once morest boredom and its desire to be somewhere else.” Often we are quick to dismiss the decisions of characters in works as poor choices, but Čeritė tells us that sometimes it happens that there are simply no good choices and you have to choose the least bad one.”

J. Žeimantienė has no doubts that this is an eternal work, the lasting value of which – emotional, literary – cannot be denied: “When translating Edith Wharton, the thought did not leave me that there is also a strong parallelism of emotional experience, when the starting point of the values ​​of a person who lived a good century ago is more acceptable and closer to you than many contemporaries. So I’m really glad that I had the opportunity to try to put into words in Lithuanian another part of the creative legacy of a truly outstanding writer full of human experience.”

For those who are not yet familiar with Edith Wharton’s work, “Summer” is the perfect choice. Small in volume, but full of great emotions, involving both a romantic line and situations lacking in tension, this book will appeal even to those who avoid or are afraid of the classics. Deep but not didactic, engaging but not artificially dramatic, Summer is a novel worth reading all year round.