The Age of Innocence
124 Installments—Entirely free
(Preview)
Members' Rating:
from 7 Ratings and 1 Review
ISBN:1588274640
Description
The rustle of silk, the glitter of diamonds—here is New York society in all of its Gilded Age splendor. May Welland is pure and delicate, a vision of young American womanhood. Her fiancé Newland Archer is a dashing and wealthy young man. All of New York is abuzz with this perfect match. And then, into the midst of this very dignified and decorated world, the mysterious Countess Olenska, a scandalous divorcee, makes her entrance. Archer, upon his first sight of the beautiful Countess, is thrown into a whirlwind of passion and doubt over the woman in his life. Bowing to society's power nonetheless, Archer marries May, but the Countess never leaves his innermost heart. Highlighting the problematic nature of one of America's most glamorous eras, this is a human drama full of the lofty dreams of which society approves and dark desires that may never be brought into the light of day.
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Opening Lines (Experimental)
I.
On a January evening of the early seventies, Christine Nilsson was singing in Faust at the Academy of Music in New York.
Though there was already talk of the erection, in remote metropolitan distances "above the Forties," of a new Opera House which should compete in costliness and splendour with ...
Member review
4/5
Reviewed by raderwoman on Dec 13, 2008
creation of a lost time and place
Reading Wharton is transport to a time so far fro current reality as to feel like fantasy. Even though the characters in this book are struggling with a set of mores that seem utterly laughable to me, I was completely involved in them, even the minor characters shown with exactness, easy to visualize and to understand. Her perceptions of motivation and behavior is still brilliant.
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Ratings for 'The Age of Innocence' by Wharton, Edith
| Alexei | | 2008-08-01 | |
| blondierocket |  | 2008-07-28 | |
| chelst7 | | 2008-07-16 | |
| Emily380 |  | 2009-02-11 | |
| Lolabean | | 2009-03-19 | |
| raderwoman | | Read review | 2008-12-13 |
| softbalchic2010 | | 2008-11-07 |
The Age of Innocence
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The Age of Innocence
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