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The Age of Innocence

The Age of Innocence

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  • Create Date：2021-08-16 09:55:46
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Edith Wharton
  • ISBN：014018970X
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Summary

The return of the beautiful Countess Olenska into the rigidly conventional society of New York sends reverberations throughout the upper reaches of society。

Newland Archer， an eligible young man of the establishment is about to announce his engagement to May Welland， a pretty ingénue， when May's cousin， Countess Olenska， is introduced into their circle。 The Countess brings with her an aura of European sophistication and a hint of scandal， having left her husband and claimed her independence。

Her sorrowful eyes， her tragic worldliness and her air of unapproachability attract the sensitive Newland and， almost against their will， a passionate bond develops between them。 But Archer's life has no place for passion and， with society on the side of May and all she stands for， he finds himself drawn into a bitter conflict between love and duty。

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Reviews

Carol Neves ，

Without doubt a classic， The Age of Innocence is practically an anthropologic study of upper-class New York society in the 1970s。 The book is made of strong criticism to that society of appearance， pretending innocence but nevertheless mean and manipulative。 I said ‘that society’ but… couldn’t it be this society？ Our society？ Whilst the opera was the place to show off one’s superiority， happiness， achievements， nowadays we have the non-stopping social media flooding our feed with other people’s Without doubt a classic， The Age of Innocence is practically an anthropologic study of upper-class New York society in the 1970s。 The book is made of strong criticism to that society of appearance， pretending innocence but nevertheless mean and manipulative。 I said ‘that society’ but… couldn’t it be this society？ Our society？ Whilst the opera was the place to show off one’s superiority， happiness， achievements， nowadays we have the non-stopping social media flooding our feed with other people’s impeccable happiness。 What has changed since Wharton’s time， may I ask you？My full review is here: https://thoughtsofonesown。home。blog/2。。。 。。。more

David Christie ，

beautifully written and a telling portrait of a bygone age。 but newland archer … what a whining drip！

Mrs Book Pond （Anna-Lena） ，

Oskuldens tid handlar om en värld av konventioner， outtalade och uttalade。 Wharton beskriver med en distanserad och ironiserande ton dessa mängder av absurda sociala koder att förundras och förargas över。 I allt detta utmanar Ellen Olanska med sin okonventionella stil och Archer med sitt tilltagande ifrågasättande av sin livsstil， men förvänta er inte himlastormande dramatik utan allting sker lågmält och är ofta antytt snarare än explicit。 När jag läste Oskuldens tid befann jag mig i en situatio Oskuldens tid handlar om en värld av konventioner， outtalade och uttalade。 Wharton beskriver med en distanserad och ironiserande ton dessa mängder av absurda sociala koder att förundras och förargas över。 I allt detta utmanar Ellen Olanska med sin okonventionella stil och Archer med sitt tilltagande ifrågasättande av sin livsstil， men förvänta er inte himlastormande dramatik utan allting sker lågmält och är ofta antytt snarare än explicit。 När jag läste Oskuldens tid befann jag mig i en situation där jag tyvärr inte riktigt hade tålamod med det här långsamma tempot och därmed sveptes jag heller inte med i den olyckliga kärlekshistorien。 Det var dock roligt att läsa ett kostymdrama som inte utspelar sig i England för en gångs skull。 。。。more

Sophie ，

Not a big fan of her writing style， but the plot was interesting with characters that kept one interested。 Thoroughly enjoyed the final chapter and how it just felt realistic。

Joy ，

I need someone to explain to me why this is a good story。 I know the writing is good， but I didn't feel the love story or like the characters， so I need to be convinced。 I need someone to explain to me why this is a good story。 I know the writing is good， but I didn't feel the love story or like the characters， so I need to be convinced。 。。。more

Crystal ，

3。5 stars

Lola ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 When I first picked the book up， after reading the first few pages， I put it back down。 The story begins at an opera， and we are immediately introduced to countless characters， themes， and conflicts。 It felt like too much of an effort to make sense of the various characters and their relationship to the main character， Newland Archer， who I immediately took a liking to。 He liked to travel， and read， and expressed feminist views， which for a man in the 1870s seemed like a rarity。 I picked the boo When I first picked the book up， after reading the first few pages， I put it back down。 The story begins at an opera， and we are immediately introduced to countless characters， themes， and conflicts。 It felt like too much of an effort to make sense of the various characters and their relationship to the main character， Newland Archer， who I immediately took a liking to。 He liked to travel， and read， and expressed feminist views， which for a man in the 1870s seemed like a rarity。 I picked the book back up again a couple of days later， and forced myself to push through the slow start。 Once I really began to understand all of the characters and the circumstances which the book was set in， I actually found myself enjoying it。 A love triangle is always interesting， particularly when set in 1870s New York。 As Newland continued to pine for the love of one while having the love of the other， I began to like him less and less。 I pitied May， his fiancée and later wife， and despised him for marrying her although he had feelings for May's cousin， the Countess Olenska。 My one problem/complaint with the book was that Newland doesn't get together with Countess Olenska at the end。 I read 300 pages just for him to live the rest of his life with May， and then avoid the Countess in Paris right at the very end。 I was expecting some sort of dramatic escape from New York， but that never came。 。。。more

Janis ，

Somehow I had managed to miss reading The Age of Innocence until now。 What a wonderful snapshot of New York society in the 1870s！ Newland Archer， May Archer， and Countess Ellen Olenska are unforgettable characters。 I loved the writing and especially the ending。 Next up on my to-do list: watch Martin Scorcese’s 1993 film of the same title and read a biography of author Edith Wharton。

Dar ，

Wharton cleverly mixed social description， critique and satire， and in the process， she controlled how I viewed Newland Archer， 1870s New York socialite。 I felt more irritation than sympathy for him， but he was also a victim of his times - a time when social mores seemed iron-clad。 The story contained what felt like hundreds of moments of frustration and longing。 Unlike Jane Austen， Wharton wrote more openly about forbidden passions。 The novel was published in 1920 and the author somewhat cheeki Wharton cleverly mixed social description， critique and satire， and in the process， she controlled how I viewed Newland Archer， 1870s New York socialite。 I felt more irritation than sympathy for him， but he was also a victim of his times - a time when social mores seemed iron-clad。 The story contained what felt like hundreds of moments of frustration and longing。 Unlike Jane Austen， Wharton wrote more openly about forbidden passions。 The novel was published in 1920 and the author somewhat cheekily views the 1870s through a 1910s lens。 I struggled to get through the book with all its minutiae， but it holds up well as a portrait of stifling masculinity。 May and Ellen were each seen through Archer's eyes， so we get to know them indirectly。 They don't come off as fully human as he was - no doubt that was the way he saw them。 I adored the ending。 Three stars for the reading experience and four for the incisive social observations and the impact。 。。。more

Lucas ，

This book is probably a good example of when it is more fun to read knowing nothing about the author。 Having just read a Wharton biography， I kept trying to read The Age of Innocence through the lens of Edith’s own difficult marriage， or her privileged， sometimes very conservative view of the world。 But the last ten pages probably can’t be read as definitively preaching one argument or another about modernization。 They’re more conflicted than that。 So in summary I’m not a good reader of this boo This book is probably a good example of when it is more fun to read knowing nothing about the author。 Having just read a Wharton biography， I kept trying to read The Age of Innocence through the lens of Edith’s own difficult marriage， or her privileged， sometimes very conservative view of the world。 But the last ten pages probably can’t be read as definitively preaching one argument or another about modernization。 They’re more conflicted than that。 So in summary I’m not a good reader of this book， but I enjoyed it for the most part。 。。。more

Bennett Garland ，

An absolutely timeless story that asks "how the hell did our parents' generation ever date？"The best part about this is how Wharton never moralizes or condemns any of her characters while taking old perceptions of high society to the absolute cleaners。 Such a strong lesson in how to comment on cultural rot while allowing for characters with beating hearts。 It's crazy how good of an ending this has。 Like all-timer。 Man， I loved this！ An absolutely timeless story that asks "how the hell did our parents' generation ever date？"The best part about this is how Wharton never moralizes or condemns any of her characters while taking old perceptions of high society to the absolute cleaners。 Such a strong lesson in how to comment on cultural rot while allowing for characters with beating hearts。 It's crazy how good of an ending this has。 Like all-timer。 Man， I loved this！ 。。。more

Jessica Senn ，

I think this would have probably been a 2 star read if not for the fabulous writing。 I do truly enjoy Wharton's writing， my can she turn a phrase， but the story frustrated me to no end LOL。 As anyone who followed my notes while reading can attest， I came away wanting to slap every single person in the entire book。 Make a decision， then stand by it people！ And if you aren't going to stand by it， then for heaven's sake just rip the band aid off and do something about it instead of dithering around I think this would have probably been a 2 star read if not for the fabulous writing。 I do truly enjoy Wharton's writing， my can she turn a phrase， but the story frustrated me to no end LOL。 As anyone who followed my notes while reading can attest， I came away wanting to slap every single person in the entire book。 Make a decision， then stand by it people！ And if you aren't going to stand by it， then for heaven's sake just rip the band aid off and do something about it instead of dithering around about it！ But then， if everyone had behaved rationally （at least what I deem rational） then there wouldn't have been a book to read。。。 *Sorry mom。。。 I know it's your favorite lol* 。。。more

Sol Troche ，

ese final 3

Magda ，

This classic novel， which won the Pulitzer Prize in 1921， is a rambling， satirical portrayal of Old New York high society and all its restrictive rules， customs， and mores。 Its plot centers around a bit of a “will they or won’t they” kind of romance where the protagonists are forced to choose between love and scandal or propriety and duty。 It’s subtle， symbolic， unconventionally feminist （for the time）， and beautifully written， and I enjoyed it much more than I expected to。

Eman ，

I'm not sure if Newland Archer was supposed to be a likable protagonist， but if he was， then I have fallen off that bandwagon and cracked my head on a pumpkin; story was good， it was funny at times and sad at times， but I wanted to smack Newland in the head throughout。 I wanted to shake him and tell him to stop ruining these women's lives。 He was so self-centered and he only evaluated things based on his own feelings; he did not once consider how certain decisions would affect the other people i I'm not sure if Newland Archer was supposed to be a likable protagonist， but if he was， then I have fallen off that bandwagon and cracked my head on a pumpkin; story was good， it was funny at times and sad at times， but I wanted to smack Newland in the head throughout。 I wanted to shake him and tell him to stop ruining these women's lives。 He was so self-centered and he only evaluated things based on his own feelings; he did not once consider how certain decisions would affect the other people involved。。。。All in all， Part One of the book I really enjoyed， but then once Part Two hit I got a bit bored with the way the story progressed and it became kind of a chore to finish。 Hence， 3。5-ish stars 。。。more

Beth ，

First time listening to an audiobook so not really sure what to rate it。

Elise Godfryd ，

What a remarkable ending。 Perhaps our imagination is the only place where we are truly safe

Teresa Zoizack ，

Great read but the ending just killed me。。。

Elin Streiffert ，

This took much longer to read than I had intended。 First， because the language was a bit more difficult than a lot of other English novels I've read。 It reminded me of Pride and Prejudice in the writing style。 Second， the text in the paper edition was tiiiiny！ It had no real paragraphs but instead everything was smoshed together very tightly， making it more tiresome for my eyes。 Third， I have been reading so much this whole summer and needed a couple of days of no reading。So， here we are。 I woul This took much longer to read than I had intended。 First， because the language was a bit more difficult than a lot of other English novels I've read。 It reminded me of Pride and Prejudice in the writing style。 Second， the text in the paper edition was tiiiiny！ It had no real paragraphs but instead everything was smoshed together very tightly， making it more tiresome for my eyes。 Third， I have been reading so much this whole summer and needed a couple of days of no reading。So， here we are。 I would say this was an okay book。 It was not bad at all， but also it did not keep me engaged throughout it all。 I got a little bit bored with Archer。 I had trouble connecting to him and his tragic love story。 Instead I got annoyed with him。 All we saw was his POV。 I wanted to know what May and Ellen was thinking， especially May was just a silent woman。 Although， I liked her "revenge" in the end。 But then the last chapter， or the epilogue if you will， just destroyed the whole book。 May was once again forced into silence， killing her off swiftly， and then it all came back to Ellen and Archer。Did anyone else feel like Ellen did everything she could to get away from Archer， but he stalked her like a crazy person？ She moved， she tried to tell him to go， he never listened。 In everything she did， he read some elaborate plan， he wanted his love story。 No matter that he never really knew her。 He loved some kind of ideal， just like he had loved the ideal of May in the beginning。I don't know what I think of the last lines of the book。 It felt like for once he listened instead of reading fiction into facts。 So maybe that was good。 I don't know。It was a funny book。 A lot of stuff was great fun， the dripping irony when people spoke， how they all resented each other and the little things they did that was not considered ideal for New York elites。 Also weird how such a small group has so many rules for how to behave。 。。。more

Duong ，

Here come the truth， didnt like it one bit。 2 stars for the author’s talent， her writing’s so beautiful but the story was a big NO for me。 A man， who couldn’t decide anything on time， love or hate， marry or dont， money or happy， COULDNT CHOOSE AT ALL。 He made not one， but two， women suffered with his hypocrisy， undecided， annoying attitude。 I didnt like May too， she became a role model of what people always talk about old hag🤷‍♀️

Rina ，

Reminding myself as I read that this book was completed in 1920 helped me appreciate it more。 I found the style of writing cumbersome with the author explaining everything and everyone in her own words。 I learned I like dialog better。 Aside from that it was an interesting view of "society" in New York in the late 1800s- early 1900s。 My most despised era is the shallow 1920s and this is the second。 Unlikable humans。 Still I got to understand more and though in had to plow thru I finished it！ LOL Reminding myself as I read that this book was completed in 1920 helped me appreciate it more。 I found the style of writing cumbersome with the author explaining everything and everyone in her own words。 I learned I like dialog better。 Aside from that it was an interesting view of "society" in New York in the late 1800s- early 1900s。 My most despised era is the shallow 1920s and this is the second。 Unlikable humans。 Still I got to understand more and though in had to plow thru I finished it！ LOL 。。。more

Maya ，

I want to bring Edith Wharton back from the dead so I can kill her again myself for that ending

Dee L ，

One of the most beautiful and heartbreaking books I've read。 One of the most beautiful and heartbreaking books I've read。 。。。more

Ben ，

They may have stood in that way for a long time， or only for a few moments; but it was long enough for her silence to communicate all she had to say， and for him to feel that only one thing mattered。

R ，

utterly brilliant。 edith wharton is hilarious， biting， insightful， heartbreaking。 this book spoke to me deeply — a new favorite。

B ✵ ，

The Age of Innocence was a bit of a mixed bag for me。 It has some of my favourite elements in books， but also some of my very least favourite。 As far as the latter goes， I just don’t really like stories revolving around affairs and cheating。 Yes I definitely used to handle it just fine when I was younger， but now it mostly rubs me off the wrong way。 This novel was one of those， and regardless of my preconceptions， I dare say the forbidden love plot wasn’t that。。。 romantic？ There was a distinct l The Age of Innocence was a bit of a mixed bag for me。 It has some of my favourite elements in books， but also some of my very least favourite。 As far as the latter goes， I just don’t really like stories revolving around affairs and cheating。 Yes I definitely used to handle it just fine when I was younger， but now it mostly rubs me off the wrong way。 This novel was one of those， and regardless of my preconceptions， I dare say the forbidden love plot wasn’t that。。。 romantic？ There was a distinct lack of chemistry in my opinion。 But on the other hand， the scorned wife was a fascinating character。 It wasn’t until the end that I realise how she was so much more than a character in the background。 She is the titular innocence personified， she is the catalyst of all the plot points that involve the love triangle。 Hers is such a weird destiny， so poetically described。 This point ties in with the elements that I always love in my classics: the high society background， which here provides a fundamental part of the motivations of the protagonists。 In her critique of old New York aristocracy， Wharton weaves such a multi-layered story all about the sanctity of morals and changing societal norms。 It’s very interesting， and it’s elevated by the setting。 Overall， I wasn’t blown away by the love story but I was intrigued by the environment and by the ultimate point that the author was making， which I think has aged very nicely。 。。。more

Lídia ，

Hasta el momento， este el mejor libro que he leído de Edith Wharton。 Creo que el tema más interesante que apunta es la integración del individuo en una sociedad-familia que le protege y le anula al mismo tiempo。 El peso de una sociedad， en este caso la alta sociedad americana del siglo XIX， que no permite al individuo vivir plenamente y escoger su camino ni apartarse de las convenciones sociales que marcan su camino。En contraposición， Wharton coloca el mundo del arte y la literatura， como escape Hasta el momento， este el mejor libro que he leído de Edith Wharton。 Creo que el tema más interesante que apunta es la integración del individuo en una sociedad-familia que le protege y le anula al mismo tiempo。 El peso de una sociedad， en este caso la alta sociedad americana del siglo XIX， que no permite al individuo vivir plenamente y escoger su camino ni apartarse de las convenciones sociales que marcan su camino。En contraposición， Wharton coloca el mundo del arte y la literatura， como escape y como alternativa de vida plena。 En el último capítulo， mientras pasea por el Louvre， “。。。 en la deslumbrante luz de la tarde mientras， una por una， cada pintura estallaba en su interior con un esplendor a medias olvidado llenando su espíritu con el prolongada eco de la belleza。 Después de todo， había carecido de tantas cosas en su vida…”Comprendo entonces porque la autora， como tantos otros americanos de la época con inquietudes artísticas， se mudó para instalarse definitivamente en París。 América reproducía los valores europeos más caducos。 “。。。 Me parece una estúpidez haber descubierto América sólo para convertirla en una copia de otro país。 （。。。） ¿Crees que Cristóbal Colón se habría tomado tantas molestias sólo para ir a la ópera con los Selfridge Merry？”Encuentro estos temas especialmente interesantes y no puedo dejar de recomendar esta novela tan bien construída， en todos los sentidos。 。。。more

Heidi ，

This is my number one favorite book of all time。 I revisit it every year and am always amazed at Wharton。 The first chapter alone is one of the best pieces of literature ever written。 It provides a beautifully descriptive view of late nineteenth century New York society with its silly， and at times harmful， unwritten rules。 Of course， the rest of the book is utterly brilliant as well。

anonymousreader ，

read

Mindy Edgington ，

The story takes place in 1870's New York City。 I really like the themes of conformity & authenticity。 The character named Ellen Olenska is the most relatable character for me - due to her desire to live according to her will， regardless of her past sins and scandals。 The story also alludes to the drama & thrills of the chase in a relationship， and how those rarely pan out in reality。 Very La La Land-esque。 The story takes place in 1870's New York City。 I really like the themes of conformity & authenticity。 The character named Ellen Olenska is the most relatable character for me - due to her desire to live according to her will， regardless of her past sins and scandals。 The story also alludes to the drama & thrills of the chase in a relationship， and how those rarely pan out in reality。 Very La La Land-esque。 。。。more

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=The Age of Innocence

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=The Age of Innocence&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,The Age of Innocence&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0