Edith Wharton - The Age of Innocence

The Age of Innocence! A truly exquisite and poignant novel.

Set in the tightly knit, opulent society of 1870s New York, The Age of Innocence follows the story of Newland Archer, a wealthy and well-respected lawyer betrothed to the charming but conventional May Welland. Newland's ordered world begins to unravel with the arrival of May's cousin, Countess Ellen Olenska. Ellen, having scandalously left her European husband, returns to New York, bringing with her an air of European sophistication and a hint of social ostracism.

Intrigued and increasingly captivated by Ellen's independent spirit and unconventional views, Newland finds himself questioning the rigid rules and superficiality of his own society and his impending marriage. He becomes torn between the comfortable security of his expected future with May and the passionate, intellectual connection he feels with Ellen. The novel beautifully portrays the subtle but powerful constraints of societal expectations, the unspoken desires and sacrifices made in the name of propriety, and the enduring impact of missed opportunities. It's a masterful exploration of love, duty, and the suffocating elegance of a bygone era.