The Valley of Decision

Written by Edith Wharton

Narrated by Ben Hill

The Valley of Decision (1902) is the first long novel of Edith Wharton. The story is set in 18th century Italy, where Odo Valsecca rises to power. The four books of the novel describes how he becomes a responsible member of Italian nobility. During his journey, he has to deal with the aristocracy, the church, the free thinkers, and the peasants. We find detailed, deep and rich descriptions of characters from all classes, along with the political background of the era. We can follow Odo's life from his youth—influenced by St. Francis Assisi, poverty and grief—through young adulthood—characterized by contacts with free thinkers, love, court spies and intrigues—to maturity, when he accepts the honor and duty of being the Duke of Pianura.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Audioliterature
• Release date: Feb 28, 2019

Edith Wharton

EDITH WHARTON (1862 - 1937) was a unique and prolific voice in the American literary canon. With her distinct sense of humor and knowledge of New York’s upper-class society, Wharton was best known for novels that detailed the lives of the elite including: The House of Mirth, The Custom of Country, and The Age of Innocence. She was the first woman to be awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and one of four women whose election to the Academy of Arts and Letters broke the barrier for the next generation of women writers.