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2026 Edith Wharton Summit: Day 3

So, while this post, Day 3, is not technically related to the Summit event schedule, it does go in depth concerning a location very much associated with The Mount – the town of Lenox, Massachusetts. Participants of the Summit were provided with a printed, and digital, “Edith Wharton Walking Tour” of Lenox, and it is from this document that I was inspired to go on foot through the town on the final day of the the Summit. This will be a brief tour, covering only a handful of points of interest – so here we go!!

My starting point, once departing the Summit, was from my hotel, which was quite conveniently located in close proximity to the center of town. Called The Hideaway Inn (which, if ever you are in need of lodging in Lenox, I highly recommend!!), this beautifully restored Victorian establishment offered central access to town. Upon approach to the intersection of Old Stockbridge Road and Walker Street, to my right was the sprawling, red brick, 125-year-old Lenox Town Hall (built in 1901). Across from the Town Hall, on the northern side of Walker Streeet, was situated The Curtis Hotel, built in 1829. Teddy Wharton and his family often stayed here while summering in the Berkshires, and Edith’s governess and confidante, Anna Bahlmann, also stayed here while the Whartons were in Lenox. The wrap-around porch and stately brick structure lends an air of sophistication to the town, also very similar in build to the Town Hall.

While meandering throughout this intersection, one’s eye is drawn to the stone obelisk, named the Paterson-Egleston Monument. Dedicated in 1892, this structure stands in tribute to two prominent local families who were very much involved in the American Revolution and the early development of the town. What is perhaps more intriguing, however, is that this is the very intersection where 18-year-old Hazel Crosby died in the historic sledding accident of 1904. As many Wharton enthusiasts may already know, it was this incident that served as inspiration for Wharton’s 1911 novella Ethan Frome. A survivor of this accident, Kate Spencer, later befriended Wharton, and also worked as a librarian in the Lenox Library.

Mentioning the Lenox Library, it was this building that I next encountered on my walk deeper into town. Its unassuming exterior, while similar in design to the adjoining structures, does not betray any indication of the Wharton-rich materials that reside within. Upon entering and crossing the entrance vestibule, one is greeted by the front desk and helpful library staff. Wandering further, one can’t help but notice the original wood flooring and ornate white molding throughout. Traversing one reading room at a time, one also can’t help but recall in Edith Wharton’s Summer when Lucius Harney visits Charity Royall in the Hatchard Memorial Library, her place of employment, to assess the architectural integrity of the building, and where it could be extended, while also not failing to secure a brief moment of flirtation between one another.

Enshrined within a glass display class, in one of the reading rooms, one finally encounters the fascinating memorabilia related to Wharton and her relationship with the Lenox Library. One open tome reveals the Minutes of the Board of Managers for the Lenox Library Association, dated July 13, 1906; it is within this record that Edith Wharton (associate manager), and Mr. Grenville Winthrop, appoint a committee to have a new sign board made. Also on display are the Accession Records of the Lenox Library Association, 1905. Adjoining these records are also first-edition copies, gifted to the library, of Wharton’s The House of Mirth (1905), Madame de Treymes (1907), and The Buccaneers (1938).

As this post comes to a close, I can’t help but share the wonderful editions of Wharton’s (and James’) works I was able to purchase at The Mount’s marvelous gift and bookshop. The titles are displayed accordingly. As a personal note, my purchase of Wharton’s The Valley of Decision officially completed my collection of Wharton’s novels, all of which I now own one copy or edition!! Please make it a point to visit this fabulous shop on your next visit to The Mount!!

In final closing, please enjoy this group photo of the 2026 Edith Wharton Summit, professionally and artfully taken on Day 1; Photo: Eric Limon, courtesy of The Mount, Edith Wharton Cultural Center (Lenox, MA)

Thanks to everyone who has stopped by my blog for a look around, and a special thank you to Dr. Donna Campbell for sharing links to my posts on the Edith Wharton Society website. Please, by all means, consider subscribing to my blog, or commenting, and ask me anything further you’d like to know about this wonderful event. You can also email me at: jtamburello194@gmail.com. As always, please ask permission or give credit before reproducing any photos, and again, thank you for visiting!!

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2026 Edith Wharton Summit: Day 1

So, to deviate from scholarly speculations to real-world documentation, I present the following post (in three parts, over three weeks) dedicated to my visit to Edith Wharton’s estate in the Berkshires, called The Mount, late in the first week of June of this year – here we go!!

To begin, the many panels and roundtables were hosted in the beautifully restored stable house: some were held in the stable auditorium, while the others were held, simultaneously, in the “carriage wash,” where Edith Wharton’s horses and carriages were routinely cleaned. This imposing building served as home base for the majority of the event’s programming, as well as for breaks for lunch and refreshments. Some titles of the panels I myself personally attended include: “Architecture and Archaeology;” “Natural and Built Environments;” “Mapping Time and Space;” “The Novels: New Approaches;” and “Adaptations.” These scholarly, masterful panels reflected new perspectives on Wharton’s work, most of which are meant to be published in a special double issue of The Edith Wharton Review, in the fall (though, don’t quote me on this one). Each presenter spoke with poise and confidence, graciously taking questions at the end of each panel.

Following the first two panels/roundtables of the day, I decided to go for a reflective stroll through the grounds. It had been seventeen years since my first, and last, visit to The Mount; but how I remembered the joy of seeing Wharton’s mansion just around the wooded bend, connecting participants between mansion and stable house. Upon entering, one is greeted with an elegant entrance hall, followed by servants’ hallways, a kitchen, and a tastefully appointed gift and bookshop, full of Wharton- and literary-themed gifts, and many published works from her oeuvre. Taking the main stairs, one is greeted by the long, bright gallery, with mirrors, plush seating, and period statuary. Immediately ahead is Teddy Wharton’s study, follow by Edith’s library (more on that in a bit), the drawing room, and dining room, which spills out onto the open-air terrace. The second level includes Wharton’s bedroom, where she wrote much of her work in bed, including The House of Mirth and Ethan Frome, and other various rooms filled with exhibits about her life and works.

Deciding to capture more fresh air, I entered the terrace from the dining room and descended down the majestic stone steps to Wharton’s walled garden pathway. To the right, passing through a bouquet of lilacs, is Wharton’s Italian garden, the fountain of which is surrounded by white begonias. There are a few benches interspersed throughout this sheltered oasis, and I did not hesitate to seize the opportunity to relax and drink in the refreshing fragrances of my favorite of the two gardens. Being rejuvenated, I headed back down the path to the French garden, with another, dolphin-adorned fountain, surrounded by small bouquets of Wharton’s favorite blooms, including lilies, hydrangeas, and dahlias. Each garden has its own particular view of the mansion and grounds, and each are splendid in their own unique design and construction.

Towards the close of the afternoon was a “breakout session,” which was comprised of an up-close view of Wharton’s library. Upon gathering and entering past the visitor barricade, our guide immediately pointed out Wharton’s collections, starting with her extensive editions in French, German, and Italian. The shelves themselves were set in handsome wood-panelled walls, with Wharton’s writing desk placed rather centrally within the room. Our guide later pointed out several editions gifted to Wharton and inscribed by her associates, including her publisher, Charles Scribner; her colleague, friend, and rival, Henry James; and even her governess and confidante, Anna Bahlmann. Along with these fascinating tomes was a rare collection of photos, the only ones known to fully capture The Mount under construction.

The evening ended with a soiree that brought together all the gathered scholars, academics, and Wharton enthusiasts, allowing for a delightful intermingling and exchanging of ideas and observations. This tasteful event concluded with a lifetime achievement award presented to renowned Wharton scholars Drs. R. Alan Price and Irene Goldman-Price (sorry, no photos of this!!). A huge and humble shout-out to Sarah Margolis-Pineo, director of the summit, and Drs. Laura Rattray and Emily Orlando, legendary Wharton scholars, who spearheaded the panels and presentations. This overwhelming experience was only made possible by these and other auxiliary staff and academics, ensuring everyone would walk away at the end of each day with something extraordinary.

Stay tuned for my next post, 2026 Edith Wharton Summit: Day 2, to be published next Monday, June 22nd!! I certainly hope you enjoyed this one, and please, by all means comment with any questions or remarks you may have about any part of the event. Please also ask permission or give credit before reproducing photos. Thank you for visiting!!

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