The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton (Book Analysis)

This practical and insightful reading guide offers a complete summary and analysis of The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton. It provides a thorough exploration of the novel’s plot, characters and main themes, including innocence, art and American society. The clear and concise style makes for easy understanding, providing the perfect opportunity to improve your literary knowledge in no time.

This clear and detailed 46-page reading guide is structured as follows:

• Biography of Edith Wharton
• Presentation of The Age of Innocence
• Summary of The Age of Innocence
• Character study
  • Newland Archer
  • May Archer (née Welland)
  • Countess Ellen Olenska (née Mingott)
  • Mr Julius Beaufort
  • Lawrence Lefferts
  • Sillerton Jackson
  • Mrs Thorley Rushworth
  • Ned Winsett
• Analysis of The Age of Innocence
  • Innocence and experience
  • New York, America, and the ‘Old World’
  • Art and society

About The Age of Innocence

The Age of Innocence tells the story of Newland Archer, a wealthy young lawyer whose plans for the future are thrown into disarray when his fiancée May’s disgraced cousin, the headstrong and independent Countess Olenska. As Archer realizes that he has fallen in love with the countess, he is forced to choose between following his heart and risking his reputation, or conforming to society’s expectations – and perhaps dooming himself, his bride and the woman he truly loves to a life of unhappiness.

The Age of Innocence was the winner of the 1921 Pulitzer Prize, making Edith Wharton the first woman ever to receive the award. It is widely considered her masterpiece, and has never been out of print.

About Edith Wharton

Edith Wharton was an American writer, and is best known for her novels The House of Mirth and The Age of Innocence, which won the 1921 Pulitzer Prize. She was also nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature on three occasions. She was born into a privileged family, which gave her the opportunity to travel frequently in her early years, and she eventually settled in Paris. In addition to her recognised influence on literature, she was also a prominent social activist, and received national honors in France and Belgium for her relief work during the First World War.