"Summer" by Edith Wharton is a captivating novel that tells the story of Charity Royall, a young woman living in the small village of North Dormer in New England. Growing up as the ward of lawyer Royall, Charity struggles with her origins and the constraints of the village community. Her monotonous existence in the local library is turned upside down by the arrival of the charming architect Lucius Harney, who unleashes her passionate nature. As their relationship deepens, Charity's inner conflict with her guardian and societal expectations becomes increasingly apparent. Wharton's "Summer" is often compared to "Ethan Frome" and offers an intense exploration of burgeoning sexuality and forbidden desire that remains relevant today. The novel is part of the Oxford World's Classics series, known for its scholarly accuracy and valuable supplementary features.