The Age of Innocence Edith Whartons most famous novel is a love storywritten immediately after the end of the First World War. Its brilliantanatomization of the... » 

The Age of Innocence Edith Whartons most famous novel is a love storywritten immediately after the end of the First World War. Its brilliantanatomization of the snobbery and hypocrisy of the wealthy elite of New Yorksociety in the 1870s made it an instant classic and it won thePulitzer Prize in 1921. Newland Archer Whartons protagonist charmingtactful enlightened is a thorough product of this society he accepts itsstandards and abides by its rules but he also recognizes its limitations. Hisengagement to the impeccable May Welland assures him of a safe andconventional future until the arrival of Mays cousin Ellen Olenska.Independent freethinking scandalously separated from her husband Ellenforces Archer to question the values and assumptions of his narrow world. Astheir love for each other grows Archer has to decide where his ultimateloyalty lies.Stephen Orgels introduction and notes set the novel in the context of theperiod and discusses Whartons skilfull weaving of characters and plot heranthropological exactitude and the novels autobiographical overtones. «