The Age of InnocenceWhen the Countess Ellen Olenska returns from Europe, fleeing her brutish husband, her rebellious independence and passionate awareness of life stir the educated sensitivity of Newland Archer, already engaged to be married to her cousin May Welland, "that terrifying product of the social system he belonged to and believed in, the young girl who knew nothing and expected everything." As the consequent drama unfolds, Edith Wharton's sharp ironic wit and Jamesian mastery of form create a disturbingly accurate picture of men and women caught in a society that denies humanity while desperately defending "civilization." |
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AGE OF INNOCENCE answered Archer felt Archer looked asked Austrey Beaufort Blenkers Botzen called Carfry carriage Chivers Countess Olenska course cousin Dagonet Dallas dear dine dinner door drawing-room dress drew Duke Edith Wharton Ellen Olenska engagement exclaimed eyes face feel Fifth Avenue gaze girl glanced Granny hand head heard husband Janey kind knew lady laugh Lawrence Lefferts Letterblair lips lived Lovell Mingott Luyden Madame Olenska Manson Mingott married May's Miss mother never Newland Archer night old Catherine's Opera pale Parker House paused Penguin poor Reggie Rhinebeck Rivière rose seemed Shaughraun silent Sillerton Jackson Skuytercliff smile society stood Struthers Struthers's suddenly suppose surprise talk tell there's things thought tion told tone Trevenna turned van der Luyden voice waiting walked Welland wife wife's Winsett woman wonder words York young