Belchamber

Plot introduction

The story follows Sainty, an aristocratic heir who likes knitting and dislikes sports. He gets married after much goading from his mother, though his wife, Cissy, turns out to find him repugnant. She has an illegitimate son with someone else, who dies shortly after.

Literary significance and criticism

The novel received mainly poor reviews from readers and critics, although E.M. Forster deplored the lack of readership the book received. Edith Wharton, a personal friend of Sturgis', nonetheless praised the novel. She described it as "very nearly in the first rank", she tried in vain to have the novel published by Scribner's before it was picked up by Putnam.