The Age of InnocenceWinner of the 1921 Pulitzer Prize, The Age of Innocence is an elegant, masterful portrait of desire and betrayal in old New York—now with a new introduction from acclaimed author Colm Tóibín for the novel’s centennial. With vivid power, Wharton evokes a time of gaslit streets, formal dances held in the ballrooms of stately brownstones, and society people "who dreaded scandal more than disease." This is Newland Archer's world as he prepares to many the docile May Welland. Then, suddenly, the mysterious, intensely nonconformist Countess Ellen Olenska returns to New York after a long absence, turning Archer's world upside down. This classic Wharton tale of thwarted love is an exuberantly comic and profoundly moving look at the passions of the human heart, as well as a literary achievement of the highest order. |
Contents
Section 1 | 7 |
Section 2 | 9 |
Section 3 | 23 |
Section 4 | 46 |
Section 5 | 52 |
Section 6 | 62 |
Section 7 | 71 |
Section 8 | 78 |
Section 12 | 169 |
Section 13 | 180 |
Section 14 | 197 |
Section 15 | 246 |
Section 16 | 257 |
Section 17 | 263 |
Section 18 | 273 |
Section 19 | 293 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Age of Innocence answered Archer felt Archer looked armchair asked Austrey Beaufort Blenkers called Carfry carriage Chivers Countess Olenska course cousin Dagonet Dallas dear dine dinner door drawing-room dress 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 de Treymes Madame Olenska Manson Mingott married May's Miss mother never Newland Archer night old Catherine's Opera pale Parker House paused poor R. W. B. Lewis Reggie rejoined Rivière rose seemed silent Sillerton Jackson Skuytercliff smile society 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 Winsett woman wonder words young