Name: The Age of Innocence
Author: Edith Wharton
ISBN: 9780199540013

The Age of Innocence

Edith Wharton

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Author Description

The Age of Innocence, Edith Wharton's most famous novel, is a love story, written immediately after the end of the First World War. Its brilliant anatomization of the snobbery and hypocrisy of the wealthy elite of New York society in the 1870s made it an instant classic, and it won the Pulitzer Prize in 1921. Newland Archer, Wharton's protagonist, charming, tactful, enlightened, is a thorough product of this society; he accepts its standards and abides by its rules but he also recognizes its limitations. His engagement to the impeccable May Welland assures him of a safe and conventional future, until the arrival of May's cousin Ellen Olenska. Independent, free-thinking, scandalously separated from her husband, Ellen forces Archer to question the values and assumptions of his narrow world. As their love for each other grows, Archer has to decide where his ultimate loyalty lies.Stephen Orgel's introduction and notes set the novel in the context of the period and discusses Wharton's skilfull weaving of characters and plot, her anthropological exactitude, and the novel's autobiographical overtones.About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

Menrva's Summary

THE PULSE

Newland Archer faces a profound moral crisis when his desire for an unconventional woman threatens to dismantle his carefully constructed life within the rigid confines of 1870s New York high society. Archer, a man defined by his adherence to the social codes of his elite circle, finds his predictable future with the virtuous May Welland destabilized by the arrival of the free-spirited Ellen Olenska. As he navigates the suffocating expectations of his peers, he must weigh his personal fulfillment against the crushing weight of social duty. The narrative employs a third-person limited perspective that emphasizes the internal conflict of a man trapped by the very traditions he once championed.

INSIDE THE PAGES

Detailed examination of Gilded Age social hierarchies and etiquette
Use of irony to critique the hypocrisy of the wealthy elite
Focus on the tension between individual desire and collective social obligation
Precise, observational prose style characteristic of late 19th-century realism
Exploration of the limitations placed upon women within high society
Symbolic use of setting and material culture to reflect character internal states
Non-linear emotional progression that mirrors the protagonist's growing disillusionment
Anthropological approach to describing the rituals of the New York aristocracy

THE COLLECTIVE ECHO

Readers and critics frequently highlight the novel's meticulous attention to the subtle power dynamics of 19th-century social circles. Discussion often centers on the effectiveness of Wharton's prose in capturing the suffocating atmosphere of a society that prioritizes appearance over authenticity. Many observers note the balance between the internal psychological development of Newland Archer and the external pressures exerted by his environment. The work is widely recognized for its sharp critique of class structures and the personal cost of conformity. Readers often find the ending particularly resonant due to its quiet, understated resolution of the central romantic conflict.

Page Count:
278

Publication Date:
2008-12-15

Publisher:
Oxford University Press

ISBN-10:
0199540012

ISBN-13:
9780199540013

Romance

English & College Success

Social Commentary

Historical

Realism

Man-woman relationships

New York