by Edith Wharton, 217 pages In New York's Gilded Age, society reigns supreme, and Newland Archer thinks this is how it should be. He is engaged to the lovely May Welland, has an undemanding job at a law office, and enjoys the conventions of the world in which he lives. All these comforts are challenged with the arrival of his fiance's scandalous cousin, Countess Ellen Olenska. In his attempts to keep his civilized world free of scandal, he draws closer to the intriguing Ellen and begins to dream of a different life, one not allowed by society. This book won the Pulitzer Prize in 1921.
"The Age of Innocence" is a compelling story of a man torn between desire and responsibility. Wharton's New York backdrop is richly detailed, and her dialog is layered with subtext of a world that doesn't speak about the things that matter. For me, this book was poignant and thoughtful and maybe a little depressing, but I still really enjoyed it. I recommend this to anyone interested in history or social issues.
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