The Age of Innocence
"Contexts" constructs the historical foundation for this very historical novel. Many documents are included on the "New York Four Hundred," elite social gatherings, archery (the sport for upper-crust daughters), as well as Wharton's manuscript outlines, letters, and related writings.
"Criticism" collects eleven American and British contemporary reviews and nine major essays on The Age of Innocence, including a groundbreaking piece on the two film adaptations of the novel.
"A Chronology and Selected Bibliography" are also included.
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Community Reviews
(Don't know why it took me so long to finally read this book, but totally different story than what I thought it was...)
I wish we could have spent some time with the two leading women, Ellen & May, rather than just with the feckless Newland Archer. Still, it's an absorbing story, and well told.
Newland Archer to my mind is one of the wimpiest, most wishy washy characters I have ever read about. Also, the coincidence of the tutor of Mrs. Archer's English friends being Count Olenska's secretary is an awfully big one to swallow.
I read this in high school for a class and loved it. It was so outside of what I normally read I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed it.
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