I'm really not sure how I feel about this. Definitely a tragic story for everyone involved.

MORALLY, it's all wrong... from the wife to Ethan's thoughts about some things.... and then when you see what happens to make him lame (which you see his limp in the prologue) and where everyone ends up and how they got there, it's all just so sad and tragic.

So taking morality out of it I see where some feel sorry for Ethan and all he's been through and can agree with them especially because he explains his situation and the dreams he had.

There was an Afterword written by Alfred Kazin (whoever he is....) and he says that Wharton's themes here are her favorites that are in every book...determination, passion and artfulness. I can see these in both books that I've read so far from Wharton.

I definitely don't like this one like I did Age of Innocence.... yes the writing and storytelling and descriptions (chef's kiss).... but no to the plott. I loved the structure of the storytelling...a prologue in current time told thru a stranger'sobservations, then Ethan's POV until the very ending, then back to the stranger.