Text and Paratext: Analyzing Edith Wharton\u27s Hudson River Bracketed in its Periodical Context

Studying a novel in the context of its paratexts — including the illustrations, advertisements, and captions surrounding the fiction — reveals how the publication context can shape a literary work. This project examines Edith Wharton’s Hudson River Bracketed (1929) and its paratexts by comparing the final version of the novel with textual changes made in its monthly periodical publication in the magazine The Delineator (1928-1930). As mass-consumerism and advertising increasingly targeted women during the 1920s, examining Wharton’s work in a popular middle-class women’s magazine like The Delineator illuminates how paratexts affect audience perceptions of the novel’s characters, conflicts, and themes. In Hudson River Bracketed, Wharton challenges the commercial publishing industry through her portrait of the artist, Vance Weston, as he struggles to adapt to New York’s high-brow literary society; however, her social critique of the industry often conflicts with the paratexts’ emphasis on ads for beauty and household supplies, romantic illustrations, and modernized captions. Using literature on popular women writers and the gendered consumer culture of the twenties, this analytical paper argues that The Delineator, its paratexts, and its textual changes to Hudson River Bracketed rewrite Wharton’s work as a romance novel, diminishing her critique of the publishing industry and ultimately promoting the commodification of women’s literature

The Grizzly, February 1, 2018

Spring Semester Opens with MLK Week • Ursinus Community Questions Response to Bias Incident • Ursinus Announces Nursing Affiliation with Villanova • Tune in to Tune Out • Campus Safety Welcomes a New Family Member • Opinions: Student Calls for Change Regarding Racial Bias Incident; Ansari Allegations Can Help Colleges Communicate About Consent • Swim Team Travels to Florida, Impresses Against Villanova • Eight Straight Wins for Men\u27s Hoopshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1635/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, February 15, 2018

Opportunities Await Students at Job Fair • Make Love? Not in War • Vagina Monologues Flesh Out Culture of Vaginas • Denison Culture Survey to Assess Ursinus Workplace • Everyone Can Make an Impact on the World • Take a Sip at LGBTea Time • Opinions: The Super Bowl was a Giant Loss for a Giants Fan; Safe Injection Sites Should Inspire More Drug Policy Changes • Fly, Eagles, Fly!: Ursinus Celebrates Historic Super Bowl Victory after Philadelphia Beats New England, 41-33 • Men\u27s Lacrosse Begins New Seasonhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1637/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, September 21, 2017

CSCG Brings Biologist and Policy Maker Nina Federoff to Campus • Students Surprised by New Student Senate Requirements • International Film Festival Kicks Off • Q&A with Dean Mark Schneider • Beekeeping Society Creates Some Buzz • Final Member of Pi Omega Delta • Opinions: First-year Perspective: Challenge Yourself with New Experiences; How to be Involved but not Over-committed on Campus • Electric Start for UC Men\u27s Cross Country • Party of Five: Women\u27s Golf Wins First Matchhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1625/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, March 23, 2017

Immigration Panel Will Allow Students to Express Their Experience with Political Issues • International Perspective: Reflections on Adjusting to Campus Culture in the Fall • Important Housing Lottery Dates and Advice from Residence Life • Tech Support Updates Outdated Login Service • From Taxes to Spaghetti, Nerd Camp Helps Students Navigate the Real World • First-Person Perspective: Student Reflects on Class Trip to Chicago • Opinions: Does U.S. Happiness Affect UC Happiness?; Trappe Beer and Soda or Austin\u27s Beverages? • From Amateur Wrestler to College Professor: Nick Scoville Does it All • Fun in the Sun: Five Ursinus Teams Traveled Cross Country to Compete During Spring Breakhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1663/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, March 2, 2017

Student Premieres Self-Produced Film on Campus • SPINT Houses to Host Events to Interest Applicants for Next Year • International Perspective: A Japanese Student\u27s Reflection on Exchange Programs • Q&A with Last Year\u27s Faculty Award Winners • Setting the Bar High: Mock Trial Races Toward Success • UC Senior Sprints to the Finish Line • Opinions: The U-Imagine Center Undermines Liberal Education; Entrepreneurship Enhances Liberal Education at UC • Men\u27s Basketball Breaks Nine-Year Drought, Advances to Conference Playoffs • Four for Four: Ursinus Women\u27s Swimming Caps Off Perfect Four Yearshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1662/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, March 1, 2018

Ursinus Administrators Hold Info Session to Discuss Sexual Misconduct Allegations • Collegeville Mayor Reflects on Career in Political Activism • Assistant Dean for International Studies Conducts Study Abroad Research • Multiple Yoga Courses Offered on Campus • Say Yes to Positive Sex Education • Digitizing the Past, Present and Future • Opinions: Respecting Women Requires Questioning Masculinity; Lysistrata is More Than Just a Greek Sex Comedy • Men\u27s Basketball Downed in CC Semifinal • Both UC Tennis Teams Ranked No. 7 in CChttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1639/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, February 23, 2017

Laptop Program Comes to an End • Digital Humanities Opportunities Take Off • Here\u27s Why the Wi-Fi has Been so Rough This Semester • International Perspective: A Student\u27s Thoughts on Technology Use While Living Abroad • Exploring Campus Culture in a Plugged-In World • Revisiting Ursinus\u27 Lost Connection to Computer History • Opinions: Excessive Technology Use Harms Student Learning; Students Should Use Technology to Stay Organized • What They Want: Athletes Speak About Dream Equipment • Ursinus HEART Lab at the Cutting Edge of Cardiovascular Researchhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1661/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, March 29, 2018

Local Antiques Warehouse Closes its Doors • Cultivating Resistance Through Conversations Across Difference • International Perspective: Good Day, Sunshine • Kings, Queens and Everything in Between • Eat Your Way Through Edible Books • Opinions: Focus on Bomber\u27s Mental Health Reflects White Privilege; Housing Games: Ursinus Can do Better Than Randomized Lottery • Bears are Back on Track Following California Trip • Comfort Continues Dominant Streakhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1642/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, November 16, 2017

Democrats Sweep Local Elections • Sustainability Office Recognized by the Princeton Review • Bear2Bear Fund Aids Students with Emergency Expenses • UCDC Fall Show, Once Removed, Opens This Thursday • Pride Shines at Ursinus • Build Character, Write Now • Opinions: Student Leaders Must be Better Allies Through Their Actions; Paradise Papers Reveal Unethical Tax Avoidance by Tech Companies • UCXC Finishes Strong • Men\u27s Basketball Picked Fourth in Preseason Pollhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1632/thumbnail.jp