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The Age of Innocence

Edith Wharton

Start date: July 1, 2022

Finish date: July 31, 2022

Why we're reading this: July 2022 Revisit the Shelf Group Read

April 2015 New School Classics Group Read
[close] July 2022 Revisit the Shelf Group Read

April 2015 New School Classics Group Read

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What Members Thought

Aug 15, 2017 Donna rated it it was amazing

In this classic, Wharton turns a gently satirical eye on upper crust New Yorkers during the Guilded Age. Newland Archer, fully entrenched in the rules of that society and engaged to the beautiful but somewhat blank May, has his world turned upside down by the entrance of the nonconforming Countess Ellen Olenska. As the inner circle attempts to tamp down Ellen’s proclivity for scandal, Archer’s gradual recognition of his changing attitudes are masterfully handled by Wharton, who writes with nuanc ...more

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Feb 05, 2015 Patrick rated it it was ok

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Although "The Age of Innocence" deals with familiar Wharton themes of individual desires vs societal expectations, I did not like this book as much as I liked "House of Mirth." Perhaps, it is due to the fact it focused to much on the never ending geneologies in setting up the stultifying background of NYC society or perhaps the ending in which Archer chose the specter of unrequited love as oppose to the possibility of real love. Whatever the cause, I did not like this book but thought it passabl ...more

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Jan 27, 2018 BurgendyA rated it really liked it · review of another edition

The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton book was great book. This is the first time that I've read a Edith Wharton novel. I have to say her writing was wonderful from the depiction of each characters mood in this sad love couldn't be tale. It definitely led me to think exactly of what was going to happen. Especially the chemistry between Newland & the Countess Ellen. The love triangle is quite captivating. The plot centers around Newland Archer, his young naive fiance May Welland and her cousin Co ...more

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