The Age of Innocence : An Introduction

[Marie]

Each time you happen to me all over again...

The return of the beautiful Countess Olenska into the rigidly conventional society of New York sends reverberations throughout the upper reaches of society.

Newland Archer, an eligible young man of the establishment is about to announce his engagement to May Welland, a pretty ingénue, when May's cousin, Countess Olenska, is introduced into their circle. The Countess brings with her an aura of European sophistication and a hint of scandal, having left her husband and claimed her independence.

Her sorrowful eyes, her tragic worldliness and her air of unapproachability attract the sensitive Newland and, almost against their will, a passionate bond develops between them. But Archer's life has no place for passion and, with society on the side of May and all she stands for, he finds himself drawn into a bitter conflict between love and duty.

* from the Penguin Classics edition

The Age of Innocence, set in 1870's Old New York, and published by Edith Wharton in 1920, has been called a novel of passion menaced by convention. The book would earn Edith Wharton the first Pulitzer Prize to be awarded to a woman.

Our Reading Schedule for the month of July :

- July 1 : Book I - Chapter 1 through 7
- July 8 : Book I - Chapter 8 through 14
- July 15 : Book I - Chapter 15 through Book II - Chapter 20
- July 22 : Book II - Chapter 21 through 27
- July 27 : Book II - Chapter 28 through 34

The chapters in some editions may vary from mine, but it should be about seven chapters per week. I will post an overview at the beginning of each section to ensure we're all in the same place.

[Nikki]

I've downloaded my copy in iBooks and I'm ready! :)