For instance, the word collective can function not only as an adjective but as a noun, the meaning of. Whartons novel the age of innocence is set against an exclusive society background in which she reveals how newland archer is often the victim of, rather than the key player in, the events. The age of innocence was edith whartons 12th novel and is located in familiar wharton territory. The novel, which takes its title from artist joshua reynolds 1785 painting of a little girl, focuses on impending marriage of an upperclass couple. In this gilded age, when americas expansion and increased industrialism produce a group of. The age of innocence by edith wharton on free audio book. Newland is consumed by his unconsummated love affair with his wifes cousin, the scandalous foreign countess ellen olenska the novel begins in the early 1870s. The age of innocence by edith wharton books the guardian. But the book can be forgiven much, because in it peril has assembled an aladdins cave of treasures. Listen to the age of innocence audiobook by edith wharton, narrated by david. Though there was already talk of the erection, in remote metropolitan distances above the forties, of a new opera house which should compete in costliness and splendour with those of the great european capitals, the world of fashion was. She has read, and quotes at length from, a rich and various array.
These book discussion questions are highly detailed and will ruin plot points, if you have not read the book. After publishing articles in leading american journals. The age of innocence audiobook edith wharton 1862 1937 noveltheageofinnocenceaudiobook. The appearance of mays cousin, the controversial countess olenska, who isgasp. Additional meanings are possible but not recorded here. The age of innocence by edith wharton 18621937 in an era before the advent of electric lights, telephones or motor vehicles, there exists a. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. The real loneliness is living among all these kind people who only ask one to. Newland archer is a lawyer that lives in the late eighteen hundreds in new york. The age of innocence by edith wharton the modern library classics, 1920 isbn 0375753206 270 pages find this book at your local library.
Selected vocabulary from edith whartons the age of. All of new yorks high society is gathered for a production of gounods opera faust, including newland archer, recently engaged to pretty may welland. This book was read for the oates challenge as well as the read, remember, recommend challenge. The age of innocence, edith wharton the age of innocence is a 1920 novel by the american author edith wharton. The age of innocence edith wharton 1st edition, 1st printing 1920 hardcoverplease note. Newland is happily engaged to a young woman at first, newland believes that marrying his fiancee may is exactly what he wants for his life. The archers spent the winter in the new house and rode in the new brougham the wellands purchased for them. It is august, a year later, and life has set into a predictable pattern. The age of innocence audiobook edith wharton audible. It won the 1921 pulitzer prize for fiction, making wharton the first woman to win the prize. Countess ellen olenska is mays cousin, and wants a divorce from the polish nobleman she married. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone.
Unfollow the age of innocence to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. Trailer for martin scorseses film starring daniel daylewis,michelle pfeiffer,winona ryder,geraldine chaplin,richard e. The story is set in upperclass new york city in the 1870s. In this gilded age, when americas expansion and increased industrialism produce a group of newly wealthy robber barons and financiers, the patient, timehonored values of the old ruling class. The plot is constructed on a pattern of ironic misunderstandings. Book summary it is a january evening in 1870s new york city and the fashionable are attending the opera.
The novelist who is faced with a simple problem of personal renunciation conceived as the theme of a tale. The age of innocence multiple choice test questions. As young newland archer, lawyer and man about town, gazes up at his soontobe fiance, may welland, in the mingottfamily opera box, he is disconcerted by the arrival of mays cousin, the countess ellen olenska, who has left her profligate but wealthy polish husband. Edith whartons the age of innocence please note that the definitions provided typically refer only to the meaning of the word in the context of the novel. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the age of innocence arcadianpress edition. In edith whartons twelfth novel the age of innocence, we meet archer newland, a young lawyer living in new york in the 1870s, who has been looking forward to his marriage to the naive and lovely may welland, a society beauty whose sheltered upbringing and training has turned her into a young woman destined to become the perfect wife and mother. On a january evening of the early seventies, christine nilsson was singing in faust at the academy of music in new york. The age of innocence is a 1920 novel by american author edith wharton. However, when mays cousin comes to town and tries to. See plot diagram summary book 1 set in victorianera new york, the age of innocence tells the story of newland archer, a young man who inwardly bristles at the respectability and duty that his social position demands.
If you are talking about the society of 1870s upperclass new york, in certain ways i believe that this title is not ironic or contrary to what it means the term ironic is sometimes over. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. This is newland archers world as he prepares to marry the beautiful but. As well as narrating numerous audiobooks, david horovitch also appeared in. The age of innocence audiobook edith wharton 1862 1937. Alyssa bresnahan tale of the manners and morals of new york society in the later 1800s. The story is set in the 1870s, in upperclass, gildedage new york city. The age of innocence, edith whartons 12th novel, which takes its title from a 1785 painting of a little girl by joshua reynolds, was first serialised in. The age of innocence edith wharton, flo gibson on amazon. I picked up the age of innocence by edith wharton for a history project in school.
The story is set in the 1870s, in upperclass, gilded age new york city. The age of innocence edith wharton 1862 1937 in an era before the advent of electric lights, telephones or motor vehicles, there exists a small cluster of aristocratic old revolutionary stock families that rule new yorks social life. Newland archer is a young attorney, handsome and eligible. Edith wharton became the first woman to win the pulitzer prize for fiction with this 1920 novel about old new york society. Reading that, i noticed how early in the book i identified with the central character even though her life was so much different from mine her life choices and her perspective on life. Appleton and company as a book in new york and in london. It won the 1921 pulitzer prize for fiction, making it the first novel written by a woman to win the pulitzer prize for fiction, and thus wharton the first woman to win the prize. The age of innocence is a love story, and a love story of the best kind.
The age of innocence cliffsnotes study guides book. The genteel snobbery of the upper classes with its underlying cruelty and heartless judgments passed on those who cross the line is wonderfully depicted in the age of innocence. The age of innocence 1920 won the 1921 pulitzer prize for literature, making wharton the first woman to win the award. Its the same formula you see in all the great love stories romeo and juliet, wuthering heights and practically every soap opera.
I was going to read this book anyway because i love jane austen and i figured that edith wharton was similar. The objective is to find parallels between history and the novel we chose. Age of innocence analysis for a custom research paper an age of innocence analysis must pay heed to the novels predominant theme of the personal struggle between individuality and conforming to social expectations. Edith whartons the age of innocence is set in upperclass new york city in the 1870s, during the socalled gilded age. The project gutenberg etext of the age of innocence, by. Newland archer is a young lawyer, a member of new yorks high society, and engaged to be married to may welland. The three fiction judgesliterary critic stuart pratt sherman, literature professor robert morss lovett, and novelist hamlin garlandvoted to give the prize to sinclair lewis for his satire main street, but columbia. Read the age of innocence by author edith wharton, free, online. The age of innocence version 2 audio book librivox audio books.
Download and keep this book for free with a 30 day trial. Written by edith wharton, narrated by david horovitch. In mid 2016, this book had minor work performed to mend a 1inch detached tear at the spine head exposing the top of the textblock signatures that the previous owner attempted to mend or keep intact with scotch tape, all of which was removed and repaired. How is the title of the age of innocence ironic to the. Age of innocence is a more quiet, subtle and accurate portrayal of this era. The age of innocence is author edith whartons 12th novel. Listen to age of innocence audiobook by edith wharton. The age of innocence arcadianpress edition kindle edition by wharton, edith.
It is the story of newland archer, a lawyer and heir to one of new yorks most prominent families. Flo gibson edith whartons pulitzer prizewinning tale of the manners and morals of new york society in the later 1800s. So it is with great reluctance that i started edith whartons classic short novel on high society life in new york city at the close of 19th century 1870s. Newland archer, a distinguished lawyer, and the shy, but lovely may welland. The age of innocence by edith wharton free at loyal books. The age of innocence audio book by edith wharton ch 15. The age of innocence although this is a love story on many levels, the age of innocence, by edith wharton, is, also, a documentary of a culture in this case, the elite rich society of new york in 19th century america who buries its own dreams and deepest desires behind the greater need to be accepted and approved by ones own reference group. The novel opens in 1870s new york on a january evening.