The Age of Innocence (Wordsworth Classics) Summary

A Story of Love and Society

The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton is a timeless novel about love, duty, and the power of social expectation. Set in New York during the 1870s, it paints a vivid picture of a society obsessed with appearance and reputation. This Wordsworth Classics edition offers readers an affordable, beautifully formatted version of Wharton’s masterpiece, complete with helpful notes and an introduction that adds historical depth.

The story follows Newland Archer, a respected lawyer who seems to have everything—wealth, status, and a proper engagement to May Welland, a sweet and innocent young woman. However, Newland’s world begins to change when May’s cousin, Countess Ellen Olenska, returns from Europe after leaving her unfaithful husband. Her independence and honesty shock New York’s polite society but awaken something new in Newland’s heart.

Conflict Between Passion and Convention

As Newland spends more time with Ellen, he starts to question the strict moral code that controls his life. He admires her courage and longs for the freedom she represents. However, society’s rules are unbreakable, and the pressure to conform becomes stronger with every passing day.

Meanwhile, May symbolizes the very world Newland wants to escape. She is kind and loyal, but also a product of her upbringing—graceful, proper, and quietly powerful. The emotional tension between the three characters builds until Newland must decide whether to follow his heart or remain faithful to his social duty.

A Powerful Portrait of an Era

The Age of Innocence is more than a love story; it is a sharp critique of a society trapped by its own traditions. Wharton’s writing captures both the beauty and the hypocrisy of the Gilded Age.

This Wordsworth Classics edition brings the story to modern readers with clear text, insightful notes, and a format perfect for students or literature lovers.

In the end, Wharton reminds us that true freedom often comes with a price—and that sometimes, love must surrender to the world’s expectations.

Language: English
Paperback:
ISBN-10: 1853262102
ISBN-13: 9781853262104
Genre: Classics
Condition: New

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