Edith Wharton (1862-1937) was an American novelist, short story writer, and designer. She was the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Literature in 1921 for her novel The Age of Innocence. She wrote about the social customs and changing values of the late 19th century and early 20th century, often focusing on the lives of the wealthy and privileged. She was also a prominent figure in the American expatriate community in Paris.