House of Mirth vs Age of Innocence?

[Primero]

I have recently re-read Mirth & Innocence and I would be interested in comments comparing the two novels. In particular, I'd be curious to learn more about Wharton's motivation for writing The Age of Innocence since it is so similar to The House of Mirth.

I loved House of Mirth, but I thought Age of Innocence covered the same ground as House of Mirth without adding anything new. In fact, to me Age of Innocence seemed like an unofficial sequel to House of Mirth - more superficial, more melodramatic. A sequel isn't right, Innocence almost felt like a toned down re-write of Mirth. At best Innocence tells the same type of story from the male protagonist's perspective rather than the female protagonist's perspective used in Mirth. Beyond that difference - I don't see why Wharton wrote Innocence.

Wikipedia entry for Age of Innocence contains an interesting comment that Wharton wrote Age of Innocence as an 'apology' for House of Mirth which was considered to be too brutal. That was exactly why I preferred House of Mirth to Age of Innocence. House of Mirth is a brutal look at society's cruel and crushing constraints on people, particularly women. Age of Innocence convey's the same message but in a much more subtle manner, subtle to the point where the message is trumped by the melodrama.

Can anyone shed any light on the Wikipedia comment regarding Age of Innocence being Wharton's apology for House of Mirth? I've googled that but found no further details.

Anyone else have thoughts on comparison of Mirth to Innocence?

Any Wharton scholars, fans, or devotees out there?

[Marcy]

I never would have said these two books are alike, or that similar. Age of Innocence seems larger, it's from a male POV, it isn't quite as depressing. HOM goes deeper into a female POV, really focusses in on the lives of women and their chocies, and the end is devastating. I don't understand the "apology" statement, but I take Wikipedia with a grain of salt.

The way the two books mesh is they examine the constrictions of the society Wharton lived in and wrote about, especially regarding women. I'm now reading another Wharton, Glimpses of the Moon, and it too deals with this, so I'm guessing that's Wharton's theme. Most writers tell the same story over and over in as many ways as they can come up with. Ultimately, I'm glad she wrote both books, but esp. HOM!

[Joan]

HOM - love it.... such a heartbreaker. Have you read Custom of the Country? Devastating.

[Joan]

Can't comment on your question comparing those two novels except to say that Lily Bart's fate is just so sad, and I could understand how some people couldn't accept it. I must read HOI; not sure I ever have. The movie was great.

[Marcy]

Wait, what is HOI, Joan?

I'm going to read Custom / Country next.