Edith Wharton's Inner Circle

From 1904 to the mid-1930s Wharton ( Age of Innocence ) was a member of what she termed an ``inner circle'' of literary colleagues who lived in Europe and shared friendship, intellectual discourse and a sympathetic interest in one another's writings. Until his death in 1916, fellow expatriate Henry James was at the center of this group and the inspiration for other writers, including Howard Sturgis ( Belchamber ), Percy Lubbock ( The Craft of Fiction ) and art critic Bernard Berenson. Goodman, who teaches English at California State University, had access to private papers, and her careful research yields a detailed portrait of this writing community. Wharton's intricate relationship with James is described, as is the group's rivalry with Bloomsbury writers. The author also analyzes specific works produced by inner-circle members that fictionalized episodes from one another's lives. Wharton's status as the only woman in the circle is explored. Of scholarly interest. Illustrations not seen by PW. (June)