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    Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton Summary

    Age of Innocence
    Edith Wharton
    3.97 (191134 Reviews)
    SocietyRelationshipHistoryPhilosophy
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    Overview of Age of Innocence

    In Wharton's Pulitzer-winning masterpiece, old New York society suffocates a forbidden love affair. The first female Pulitzer Prize winner crafted a world so authentic that Martin Scorsese couldn't resist bringing its elegant tragedy to screen. What price would you pay for true desire?

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    "Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

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    "Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

    @Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
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    "Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

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    Key Takeaways

    1

    The Gilded Cage of Society

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    In the glittering world of 1870s New York, we find ourselves amidst a society bound by rigid conventions and unspoken rules. I, Edith Wharton, invite you to step into this world through the eyes of Newland Archer, a young man of impeccable breeding and social standing. As we begin our tale, Newland is contentedly engaged to the lovely May Welland, a union that promises to cement his place in the upper echelons of New York society. But beneath the polished surface of this world, currents of change are stirring. The arrival of Countess Ellen Olenska, May's exotic and unconventional cousin, sends ripples through the carefully maintained facade of propriety. Ellen, recently returned from Europe and separated from her Polish husband, represents everything that New York society fears and secretly desires - freedom, passion, and the courage to defy expectations. As Newland finds himself drawn to Ellen's vibrant spirit, he begins to question the very foundations of the society he has always known. The real loneliness, he discovers, is living among all these kind people who only ask one to pretend.

    2

    The Awakening of Newland Archer

    3

    The Unraveling of Innocence

    4

    The Passage of Time

    5

    The Final Chapter

    6

    Reflections on a Gilded Age