The Age of InnocenceWharton's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel set in upper class New York City. Newland Archer, gentleman lawyer and heir to one of New York City's best families, is happily anticipating a highly desirable marriage to the sheltered and beautiful May Welland. Yet he finds reason to doubt his choice of bride after the appearance of Countess Ellen Olenska, May's exotic, beautiful 30-year-old cousin, who has been living in Europe. This novel won the first ever Pulitzer awarded to a woman. Widely regarded as one of Edith Wharton's greatest achievements, The Age of Innocence is not only subtly satirical, but also a sometimes dark and disturbing comedy of manners in its exploration of the 'eternal triangle' of love. Set against the backdrop of upper-class New York society during the 1870s, the author's combination of powerful prose combined with a thoroughly researched and meticulous evocation of the manners and style of the period, has delighted readers since the novel's first publication in 1920. In 1921 The Age of Innocence achieved a double distinction - it won the Pulitzer Prize and it was the first time this prestigious award had been won by a woman author. |
Contents
Section 1 | 3 |
Section 2 | 28 |
Section 3 | 52 |
Section 4 | 78 |
Section 5 | 97 |
Section 6 | 113 |
Section 7 | 151 |
Section 8 | 200 |
Section 9 | 231 |
Common terms and phrases
afternoon Age of Innocence answered Archer felt armchair asked Austrey Blenkers Botzen Carfry carriage Chiverses Countess Olenska course cousin Dagonet Dallas dear dine dinner door Dr Carver drawing-room dress Duke Edith Wharton Ellen Olenska engagement exclaimed eyes face feel Fifth Avenue gaze glanced Granny hand head heard House of Mirth husband Janey kind knew lady laugh Lawrence Lefferts Letterblair lips lived Lovell Mingott Luyden Madame Olenska Manson Mingott Marchioness married May's Medora Manson Miss mother never Newland Archer night old Catherine's old New York Opera pale Parker House paused poor Reggie Rivière rose seemed silent Sillerton Jackson Skuytercliff smile society St Augustine stood Struthers Struthers's suddenly suppose surprise talk tell there's things thought told tone Trevenna turned van der Luyden voice waiting walked Welland wife window Winsett woman wonder words young