Xingu

Book excerpt: ‘Xingu’ lampoons the leisurely lives of six ladies who lunch. Having formed a literary club, the six pseudo-intellectuals are thrown into panic at the prospect of being visited by a famous author. With sparkling dialogue and some wry observations about the lives of the upper classes, ‘Xingu’ is a biting satire on women’s place in the society of the time. A superb read, with an unexpected and riotous denouement. Edith Wharton (1862 – 1937) was an American designer and novelist. Born in an era when the highest ambition a woman could aspire to was a good marriage, Wharton went on to become one of America’s most celebrated authors. During her career, she wrote over 40 books, using her wealthy upbringing to bring authenticity and detail to stories about the upper classes. She moved to France in 1923, where she continued to write until her death.