Dearest Edith,

I am writing to tell you that I have now read your first full-length novel, and I am thanking the muse Melpomene, that you turned from history to tragedy and found your voice. Oh yes, I know, you already had an elegant style and a way with prose that foreshadowed things to come, but truly, I had no sense of who this Italian Duke was meant to be amid all the philosophy and high-flown debates.

You would think that following a character from boyhood to manhood and seeing all his growing pains would build an attachment of some kind, and really it should, but I am not that easily attached, so it didn’t. I felt like I was inside Lily Bart’s skin and I wept for her copiously, but nary a tear for this guy, not even a pang.

I just wanted you to know that I have not changed my feelings for you one iota because of this rather rotten novel. I still love you. I get that everyone needs to have their growing pains, even the really great writers like you. As far as I know, only Shakespeare never got it wrong, and there are probably people out there who would argue against that.

Anyway, thanks, Edith, for all the superb writing you did and forgive me this rating, which in all honesty I just have to give this book. I will tell anyone who will listen not to judge you by this, to just glide on over it and read something else you have written that will make their eyes water and their heads spin.

Your forever friend,
Sara
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This is Wharton's first novel length work, and a foray into historical fiction. It was not something I would have expected from Wharton given my knowledge of her other works.
The novel is set in late 18th century Italy, and is an account of the life of Odo Valsecca, a fictional character. Although he was a distant relative of the reigning Duke of Pianura and in the line of succession, Odo was raised in poverty on a farm. However, at the age of 12, he was called to court, and ultimately years later succeeds to the Dukeship.
This is a rather philosophical work, and there is a lot of discussion about the divisions between church and state, the granting of rights to peasants and other issues of the time. Because of his upbringing, Odo always felt a sympathy with the common people, and we can see hints of the social commentary Wharton is known for. For example, here is her description of the school to which Odo was sent after being brought to court. It was, "in touch with the fine gentleman's world of intrigue, cards and dueling: the world in which ladies were subjugated, fortunes lost, adversaries run through and tradesmen ruined with that imperturbable grace which distinguished the man of quality from the plebeian." I also found it surprisingly relevant to current times, as after Odo ascended to the Dukeship he found that even a ruler who wants to do the right thing can have difficulties in dealing with all the quarreling factions to get anything done. And in addition to these serious themes, it is also an engaging work about a young man's struggles in coming of age.
Overall, I enjoyed this, but it's not one I'd recommend dropping everything to read. There is a lot of historical detail that went over my head, and it is a rather slow read. However, it is unlike any other Wharton I've read, and even though it's her first novel, there is a lot of lovely writing here. For example, when Odo first comes to court after being raised on a peasant farm, he feels, "like a stranger at a masked ball where all the masks are acquainted with each other's disguises and concealed to the visitor."
Overall, Recommended.

3 1/2 stars ( )

40. The Valley of Decision by Edith Wharton
published: 1902
format: 461-page Kindle ebook, public domain
acquired: July
read: Aug 2 – Sep 5
time reading: 19:57, 2.6 mpp
rating: 3½
locations: Mainly fictional late 18th-century Pianura in Northern Italy somewhere between Turin (in Savoy) and Milan. Also Turin, Naples, Venice, and other Italian places.
about the author: 1862-1937. Born Edith Newbold Jones on West 23rd Street, New York City. Spent most of her writing life in France.

Wharton‘s first full length novel from 1902 looks at 18th century northern Italy and reform movements in the Age of Enlightenment. Through unanticipated accidents of succession Odo rises from a neglected spiritual boy to educated idealistic wannabe reformer, to a Duke able to implement his reforms (partially driven a by lover). But do his subjects want them? It‘s a curious complicated setup; a long, interesting, if somewhat forced novel of ideas, or maybe of failed ones.

It's in a way a kind of an oddball first major novel. It's not bad, but readable and interesting. A maybe awkward opening where a reader has no idea where she is going leads to long chunks feeling as if they were written in one breathe, full of ideas and observations and energy. And it asks some hard questions. I would only recommend to completists, but I don't think they will mind it.

2021
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