Crucial Instances

‘Crucial Instances’ was the second collection of Wharton’s short stories to be published. Of the seven, ‘Copy: A Dialogue’ is presented as a short play. This collection shows the breadth of Wharton’s abilities, with stories ranging from the ‘feelgood’ to a Gothic, supernatural outing. Shorter stories seemed to serve as a focus for Wharton and her writing is exceptionally precise and memorable when faced with these parameters. A great read for Wharton fans and those new to her work.



Edith Wharton (1862 – 1937) was an American designer and novelist. Born in an era when the highest ambition a woman could aspire to was a good marriage, Wharton went on to become one of America’s most celebrated authors. During her career, she wrote over 40 books, using her wealthy upbringing to bring authenticity and detail to stories about the upper classes. She moved to France in 1923, where she continued to write until her death.