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Reading Edith Wharton through a Darwinian lens
evolutionary biological issues in her fiction
"This book identifies evolutionary issues central to Edith Wharton's fiction. Discussing whether and when Wharton's characters' behavior is evolutionarily adaptive, that is, whether it promotes the passing on of genes, places Wharton's social criticism in a useful new framework, opening the way to richer comprehension of her views on human nature"--Provided by publisher.
The house of mirth: an unsuccessful mate search -- The reef: the costs of conflict between the sexes -- The age of innocence: nepotistic influences on mating behavior -- The glimpses of the moon: a creative experiment in long-term mating -- The old maid and "Roman fever": female mate choice and competition between women -- The children: social environment and parental investment -- Conclusion: evolutionary biological preoccupations in Wharton's fiction.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 233-237) and indexes.