Edith Wharton

Edith Wharton was an American novelist, whose works often critiqued New York high society, based on her own experiences living in it in the 1870s-1900s. She was rose to literary fame with The House of Mirth in 1905 and awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1921 for The Age of Innocence. While living in France during World War I, she was awarded the Legion of Honor for her work in assisting refugees and establishing hospitals in France.

In 1917, Wharton traveled to Morocco. While she was touring the country, she was assigned by General Lyautey an escort from the French Foreign Legion, Captain Duval, who was really Indiana Jones in a role for French intelligence. Duval's escort mission was cover for Jones' assignment to determine who among Sheikh Kamal's men had been secretly giving arms to rebel tribesmen.

As they began their journey around Morocco, Jones opened up to the older novelist and told her his story of how he ended up in the war. Despite the age difference, they developed a closeness as they traveled to ruins and towns. In one town, while shopping for trinkets, they met the American journalist, Lowell Thomas, who joined their expedition. Wharton and Thomas verbally sparred over meals regarding Thomas' role in providing heroes to the public and the public's right to know about celebrity's lives. When Thomas equated Wharton's character's private scenes to the public's right to know, Wharton reminded Thomas that her works and characters were fictional, and not journalism.

The party reached Hidron, where Sheikh Kamal entertained them. Kamal was intrigued by Wharton and remarked that she was quite intellectual - for a woman. Wharton cleverly responded that Kamal was quite courteous - for a man. Wharton enjoyed Kamal's lavish dinner and entertainment and was not shocked by the belly dancers. After dinner, Thomas noticed the close relationship between Wharton and Jones. The next day, Wharton met with many of the town's dignitaries at Kamal's estate while Jones discovered the traitors in Hidron. Upon her departure from Hidron, Thomas graciously told her that he wasn't going to write anything about her trip in Morocco. Before she boarded her cart, Jones gave her a customary French greeting of a kiss on each cheek, but she returned with a full kiss on the lips.

Behind the scenes
Actress Clare Higgins portrayed Edith Wharton in The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles.

In 1920, Wharton published her travel writings In Morocco about her journey to the country in 1917.

Appearances

 * The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles
 * "Morocco, 1917" (not aired on its own)
 * collected in Tales of Innocence