The Age of Innocence

About “The Age of Innocence”

Edith Wharton's most famous novel was written shortly after the end of the First World War. It explores New York society in the 1870s, a world in which Wharton grew up and spent her life trying to escape. The story follows Newland Archer, a charming and thoughtful man who fits into society's expectations but also sees its limits. He is engaged to May Welland, a proper and traditional woman, but her cousin Ellen Olenska disrupts his life. Ellen is independent, thoughtful, and has left her husband, which makes her controversial. As Newland and Ellen grow closer, he must decide where his true loyalty lies.