The Age of InnocenceEdith Wharton’s masterpiece brings to life the grandeur and hypocrisy of a gilded age. Set among the very rich in 1870s New York, it tells the story of Newland Archer, a young lawyer engaged to marry virginal socialite May Welland, when he meets her cousin, Countess Ellen Olenska, a woman unbound by convention and surrounded by scandal. As all three are drawn into a love triangle filled with sensuality, subtlety, and betrayal, Archer faces a harrowing choice between happiness and the social code that has ruled his life. The resulting tale of thwarted love is filled with irony and surprise, struggle and acceptance. Recipient of the first Pulitzer Prize for fiction ever awarded to a woman, this great novel paints a timeless portrait of “society” still unmatched in American literature—an arbitrary, capricious social elite that professes inviolable standards but readily abandons them for greed and desire. |
Contents
I | 3 |
II | 10 |
III | 15 |
IV | 22 |
V | 27 |
VI | 36 |
VII | 43 |
VIII | 49 |
XVIII | 137 |
XIX | 151 |
XX | 161 |
XXI | 172 |
XXII | 192 |
XXIII | 202 |
XXIV | 207 |
XXV | 215 |
IX | 56 |
X | 68 |
XI | 77 |
XII | 85 |
XIII | 96 |
XIV | 102 |
XV | 109 |
XVI | 118 |
XVII | 127 |
XXVI | 226 |
XXVII | 233 |
XXVIII | 239 |
XXIX | 246 |
XXX | 255 |
XXXI | 266 |
XXXII | 275 |
XXXIII | 289 |
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Common terms and phrases
added answered appeared Archer asked Beaufort better called continued Countess Olenska course cousin dear dinner don't door drawing room dress Ellen engagement eyes face fact feel felt followed friends gave give glanced hand head heard hour husband idea Jackson kind knew lady laugh less light lived looked Luyden Madame Olenska Manson marriage married May's mean meet mind Mingott Miss mother moved never Newland Newland Archer night once opened opera pale passed poor question reason rose seemed seen sense sent side silent smile social society stood street suddenly suppose sure surprise talk tell things thought told tone took turned understand voice waiting walked Welland Wharton wife wish woman women wonder York young