1. Roman Fever Edith Wharton

2. Roman Fever Edith Wharton
The author
January 24, 1862 – August 11, 1937
A Pulitzer Prize-winning American novelist, short story writer, and designer.
Many of Wharton's novels are characterized by a subtle use of dramatic irony. In addition to writing several respected novels, Wharton produced a wealth of short stories and is particularly well regarded for her ghost stories.

3. Roman Fever Edith Wharton
Major characters
The protagonists are Grace Ansley and Alida Slade, two middle-aged American women who are visiting Rome with their daughters, Barbara Ansley and Jenny Slade. The elder women grew up in Manhattan, New York, and were friends from childhood. A youthful romantic rivalry led Mrs. Slade to nurture feelings of jealousy and hatred against Mrs. Ansley.

4. Roman Fever Edith Wharton
Plot summary
In the opening pages of the story, the two women compare their daughters and reflect on each other's lives. Mrs. Slade reveals a secret about a letter written to Mrs. Ansley on a visit to Rome many years ago. Mrs. Ansley responds, in the last sentence of the story, "I had Barbara." This implies that Barbara is an illegitimate child she had with Delphin.

5. Roman Fever Edith Wharton
Setting
The setting of the story takes place in the afternoon, in the city of Rome. Two wealthy middle-aged widowed women are visiting Rome with their two bachelorette daughters. The exotic setting illustrates the power and class from which the women hail, but the Old Rome context, such as the Colosseum, insinuates Roman Empire-style intrigue.

6. Roman Fever Edith Wharton
Themes
Power struggle for those in the upper classes.
Betrayal and deception: The two chief characters use subterfuge and machination in order to improve their engagement prospects as youths.
Grudges: And in their middle age, Mrs. Slade and Mrs. Ansley introduce decades-old surprises, unexpected in characters so similar in proximity, age, and class.

7. Roman Fever Edith Wharton
Representation of Female Relationships
Mrs. Ansley and Mrs. Slade have a bittersweet relationship filled with envy, betrayal, and competition. They compare their lifelong battle for one man, Delphin Slade, and now quarrel regarding who has the more impressive daughter, both of whom, ironically, share the same father.

8. Roman Fever Edith Wharton
Further readings
Roman Fever (1993), Robert Ward's opera at Duke University is based on this work.
Roman Fever (1996), Hungarian composer Gyula Fekete's opera premiered at Budapest's Merlin Theatre.
Daisy Miller (1878), novel by Henry James.