The Fruit of the Tree

Edith Wharton (1862—1937) was an American novelist and short story writer. Her works show the lives of people of the late nineteenth century, the times of decline in American history. She was the first woman to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Literature in 1921. Wharton also was familiar with many famous people of the time, including President Theodore Roosevelt. Set in a small town in New England, the plot of "Fruit of the Tree" revolves around the struggles of the working class. It follows John Amherst, an idealistic manager in a textile mill, who wants to improve the working conditions of the laborers. However, upper management suppresses all his attempts, caring only about the profit. When Amherst marries the widow of the former mill owner Bessy West-more, he begins to translate his ideas into reality.