The Age of Innocence

The Age of Innocence is a novel by Edith Wharton, first published in 1920. Set in New York City during the Gilded Age, the story follows the life of Newland Archer, a wealthy young lawyer who is engaged to May Welland, a beautiful and proper young woman from a prominent family. However, when May’s cousin, the Countess Ellen Olenska, returns to New York after a scandalous divorce, Newland finds himself drawn to her unconventional and independent spirit. As he struggles with his feelings for Ellen and his duty to May and their social circle, Newland is forced to confront the rigid expectations and societal norms of his time. The novel explores themes of love, duty, class, and the tension between tradition and progress, offering a complex and nuanced portrait of a society on the brink of change. With its vivid descriptions of high society and its incisive commentary on the human condition, The Age of Innocence remains a timeless classic of American literature.He bent and laid his lips on her hands, which were cold and lifeless. She drew them away, and he turned to the door, found his coat and hat under the faint gas-light of the hall, and plunged out into the winter night bursting with the belated eloquence of the inarticulate.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world’s literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.