The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton

The Age of Innocence (Readings Classics)

Author: Edith Wharton
Binding: Paperback
Paper Quality: Standard
Category: Classic Literature, Historical Fiction, Romance
Recommended For:
Students, literature lovers, and readers interested in classic novels that explore society, love, and cultural traditions.

The Age of Innocence is a timeless classic by Edith Wharton, set in the elite New York society of the late 19th century. It follows Newland Archer, a young lawyer engaged to the beautiful and conventional May Welland, whose life changes when he falls in love with May’s cousin, the unconventional Countess Ellen Olenska. The novel masterfully explores themes of love, duty, societal expectations, and personal freedom.

Key Points:

• Gilded Age New York:
  A vivid portrait of high society and its rigid codes of conduct.

• Conflict Between Tradition and Desire:
  Newland Archer’s struggle between love and social duty.

• Complex Characters:
  Strong, layered female characters who challenge societal norms.

• Themes of Love and Sacrifice:
  Examines choices people make between happiness and obligation.

• Pulitzer Prize Winner:
  The first novel written by a woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (1921).