Set in the opulent society of 1870s New York, 'The Age of Innocence' unveils the intricate webs of love, duty, and societal expectations. Newland Archer, a young lawyer, finds himself torn between his fiancée May Welland and the enigmatic Countess Ellen Olenska, who defies convention. Wharton masterfully critiques the hypocrisy of high society while exploring the depths of human desire and the cost of passion. As Archer navigates these complexities, he must confront the limits imposed by his social environment. Will he follow his heart or succumb to the suffocating norms of his world?
By Edith Wharton
Published: 2019
""We have a right to our own lives, and to make our own mistakes; the only sin in love is to never have loved at all.""
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“"We have a right to our own lives, and to make our own mistakes; the only sin in love is to never have loved at all."”
The Age of Innocence
By Edith Wharton
Discover a world of knowledge through our extensive collection of book summaries.
Edith Wharton (1862-1937) was an American novelist, short story writer, and designer known for her incisive exploration of the lives and morals of the American upper class during the Gilded Age and early 20th century. She was the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for her novel "The Age of Innocence" (1920), which critiques the social conventions of New York's elite. Other notable works include "The House of Mirth" (1905) and "Ethan Frome" (1911), both of which showcase her acute ability to depict complex characters and their struggles within rigid societal structures. Wharton's writing is characterized by its rich descriptive detail, psychological depth, and a keen sense of irony.
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