Rome for centuries was an essential stop on the Grand Tour, part of the education of well-born visitors such as the great chronicler of Gilded Age, Edith Wharton. 

A collection of short stories, set in Italy, France and America, with powerful portraits of women who live in “the world of propriety” at the turn of century, displaying emotions women feel in love, in jealousy, when they long for children or seek independence – and when their passions lead them to overstep the bounds laid down by exacting conventions. We see too what happens to those strong enough to break the rules but rarely strong enough to live forever beyond the pale of the society that has banished them.

The stories reveal the weight of shroud.

 In this short story, a characteristic exploration of feminine social competitiveness, two friends, rich widows from New York, look out the Forum as they recall the trip to the city that preceded their marriages. As ruthless as Roman senators, each thinks they have done better than the other. Wharton’s laconic revelatory twist is a must read.

Grace Ansley and Alida Slade middle-aged, widowed American women visiting Rome with their unmarried daughters, Barbara Ansley and Jenny Slade. The women live in Manhattan, New York, and have been friends since girlhood. A youthful and romantic rivalry led Mrs. Slade to nurture feelings of jealousy and hatred against Mrs. Ansley. For her part, Mrs. Ansley looks down on Mrs. Slade, who she feels has led “a sad life.”

The two women compare their daughters and reflect on each other’s lives. Eventually, Alida reveals a secret about a letter written to Grace on a visit to Rome twenty-five years ago. The letter was purportedly from Alida’s fiancé, Delphin, inviting Grace to a rendezvous at the Colosseum. In fact, Alida forged the letter in an attempt to send Grace on a fruitless outing and expose her “delicate throat: to the “deathly cold.” Mrs. Ansley is upset at this revelation, but explains that she was not left alone at the Colosseum, she responded to the letter, and Delpin arrived to meet her. Mrs. Ansley then says that she feels sorry for Mrs. Slade, repeating her earlier thoughts. Mrs. Slade states that, while she was “beaten here,” Mrs. Ansely ought not to feel sorry for her, because she “had ( Delphin) for twenty-five years” while Mrs. Ansley had “nothing but what one letter that he didn’t write.” Mrs. Ansley responds, in the last sentence of the story, “ I had Barbara.” Implying that Barbara is Delphin’s daughter. The story takes place in the afternoon through sunset, in the city of Rome, at a restaurant overlooking the Forum.

Roman Fever by Edith Wharton Virago £25.