This is a powerful and tragic work by the masterful author about a girl's sexual awakening. Of course, there are consequences involved; she is a poor girl in a small western New England town. This book deals with both sexuality and class distinction and touches on incest as well. While these topics are more or less openly debated today, they were considered scandalous at the time of publication. Wharton's illustrious colleagues Henry James and Joseph Conrad both praised this novel for its realism and courage!