‘The Spark’ is the third of four books set in Old New York. When Hayley Delane discovers that there’s more to his mentor than meets the eye, he realises that he needs to change his way of thinking. ‘The Spark’ is a poignant and often funny exploration of the relationship between two men. At the same time, Wharton uses the novella to take some acerbic pot-shots at a society where appearance seems to carry more weight than genuine goodness. An elegant and humorous story about stories themselves.Edith Wharton (1862 – 1937) was an American designer and novelist. Born in an era when the highest ambition a woman could aspire to was a good marriage, Wharton went on to become one of America’s most celebrated authors. During her career, she wrote over 40 books, using her wealthy upbringing to bring authenticity and detail to stories about the upper classes. She moved to France in 1923, where she continued to write until her death.