| Author |
Wharton, Edith, 1862-1937 |
| Title |
The Age of Innocence
|
| Note |
Reading ease score: 68.9 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read.
|
| Credits |
Produced by Judith Boss and Charles Keller. HTML version by Al Haines.
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| Summary |
"The Age of Innocence" by Edith Wharton is a novel written during the late 19th century. The story is set in the upper echelons of New York society, exploring themes of tradition, social norms, and personal desire. The narrative begins with Newland Archer, a young lawyer engaged to the demure May Welland, as he navigates the complexities of love and societal expectations amidst his attraction to May's scandalous cousin, Countess Ellen Olenska. The opening of the novel introduces us to a winter evening at the Academy of Music, where Archer is at the opera, eagerly anticipating the performance and the beautiful singer Christine Nilsson. He observes the audience, including May Welland and her family, seated in the box of her grandmother, Mrs. Manson Mingott. A notable interruption occurs with the unexpected appearance of Countess Olenska, stirring whispers and intrigue. As the evening unfolds, Archer's internal conflicts emerge; he grapples with his feelings for both women while adhering to the rigid codes of his social milieu. This early glimpse into Archer's life signals the central struggle between individual desire and societal duty that drives the narrative. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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| Language |
English |
| LoC Class |
PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature
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| Subject |
New York (N.Y.) -- Fiction
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| Subject |
Love stories
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| Subject |
Domestic fiction
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| Subject |
Married people -- Fiction
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| Subject |
Triangles (Interpersonal relations) -- Fiction
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| Subject |
Separated people -- Fiction
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| Subject |
Upper class -- Fiction
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| Category |
Text |
| EBook-No. |
541 |
| Release Date |
May 1, 1996 |
| Most Recently Updated |
Jan 1, 2021 |
| Copyright Status |
Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads |
3576 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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