Novelist Wharton (5)
I believe the answer is:
edith
'novelist wharton' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for edith that I've seen before include "and 19 Across: 'Little Sparrow'" , "- - Piaf, singer" , "Dame ----- Evans (1888-1976), stage and screen actress" , "- Cavell, WW 1 heroine" , "Eg Cavell" .)