Spend an inspiring day in Lenox at The Mount, the elegant country estate of Pulitzer Prize–winning author Edith Wharton. Designed by Wharton herself in 1902, the house and its grounds reflect her deep knowledge of architecture and landscape design – principles she later captured in her influential book The Decoration of Houses. She famously called The Mount her “first real home,” and it remains the place where she did some of her most productive writing.
Enjoy a guided tour of the grand mansion, where beautifully restored rooms and immersive exhibits reveal not only Wharton’s life and literary achievements, including classics like The Age of Innocence, but also the stories of the servants who kept the estate running. Learn about Wharton’s humanitarian work during World War I, when she organized relief efforts in France, earning recognition from the French government.
Outside, we’ll tour the formal gardens, designed in the European style Wharton admired, and discover the rotating exhibition of contemporary outdoor sculpture set against sweeping Berkshire views. Along the way, we will learn about the estate’s past and its current mission. A relaxing group lunch outside on the terrace is included.
Guide: Jeanne Fontaine
Wednesday, September 2; 9:30 am – 4 pm
Includes guided tours, lunch, bus transportation and gratuities.
