The Age of InnocenceSelected by the Modern Library as one of the 100 best novels of all time Newland Archer saw little to envy in the marriages of his friends, yet he prided himself that in May Welland he had found the companion of his needs--tender and impressionable, with equal purity of mind and manners. The engagement was announced discreetly, but all of New York society was soon privy to this most perfect match, a union of families and circumstances cemented by affection. Enter Countess Olenska, a woman of quick wit sharpened by experience, not afraid to flout convention and determined to find freedom in divorce. Against his judgment, Newland is drawn to the socially ostracized Ellen Olenska, who opens his eyes and has the power to make him feel. He knows that in sweet-tempered May, he can expect stability and the steadying comfort of duty. But what new worlds could he discover with Ellen? Written with elegance and wry precision, Edith Wharton's Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece is a tragic love story and a powerful homily about the perils of a perfect marriage. Commentary by William Lyon Phelps and E. M. Forster |
Contents
3 | |
Section 2 | 10 |
Section 3 | 16 |
Section 4 | 23 |
Section 5 | 28 |
Section 6 | 36 |
Section 7 | 43 |
Section 8 | 49 |
Section 18 | 136 |
Section 19 | 149 |
Section 20 | 159 |
Section 21 | 170 |
Section 22 | 182 |
Section 23 | 199 |
Section 24 | 204 |
Section 25 | 212 |
Section 9 | 56 |
Section 10 | 67 |
Section 11 | 76 |
Section 12 | 84 |
Section 13 | 95 |
Section 14 | 101 |
Section 15 | 108 |
Section 16 | 118 |
Section 17 | 127 |
Section 26 | 222 |
Section 27 | 229 |
Section 28 | 236 |
Section 29 | 243 |
Section 30 | 252 |
Section 31 | 263 |
Section 32 | 272 |
Section 33 | 286 |
Common terms and phrases
Age of Innocence answer Archer felt armchair asked Austrey Beaufort Blenkers called Carfry carriage Charles Dickens Chivers Countess Olenska course cousin D. H. Lawrence Dagonet Dallas dear dine dinner door drawing-room dress Duke Edith Wharton Ellen Olenska engagement eyes face feel Fifth Avenue Fyodor Dostoevsky girl glanced Granny hand head heard husband Jane Austen Janey kind knew lady laugh Lawrence Lefferts Letterblair lips lived Louisa Lovell Mingott Luyden Madame Olenska Manson Mingott marriage married May's Medora Manson Miss mother never Newland Archer night old Catherine's Opera pale Paris paused poor Reggie 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 window Winsett woman wondered words York young