From School Library Journal: "Relying on newly available materials from the Wharton archives, Benstock (Women of the Left Bank, LJ 11/15/86) has drawn a compelling portrait of Henry James's ``angel of devastation.'' In rich and sometimes tedious detail, the author traces the development of Wharton's private life and its impact on her public persona. This study provides greater insight than previous biographies into Wharton's failed marriage, her affair with Morton Fullerton, her guilt over her childlessness, and her intimate relationship with Henry James. The Wharton who emerges is a highly energetic writer for whom sexuality, passion, and the roles of women in society are central to life and art. Filled with engaging social history and literary criticism, Benstock's work challenges and complements R.W.B. Lewis's Edith Wharton (1975). This is first-rate literary biography. Highly recommended."