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.