A Son at the Front

In Edith Wharton's antiwar masterpiece, A Son at the Front, the devastation of World War I is explored through the experiences of expatriate American painter John Campton, whose son George, born in Paris, faces conscription into the French army. Set against the backdrop of a Europe on the brink of war, Campton struggles with the moral dilemmas of protecting his son while contemplating themes of parental love, national loyalty, and the responsibilities of art. Through her narrative, Wharton weaves a poignant meditation on sacrifice and fidelity, highlighting the intimate effects of war on the home front.