Age of Innocence (Wordsworth Classics)
Worth buying if: you enjoy Wharton’s focus on Gilded Age New York society.
Skip it if: you want fast-paced plots rather than restrained social scenes.
Exact edition: Edition shown · ISBN-13 9781853262104. The Amazon link uses this ISBN, so the product page should open to the edition shown here.
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Summary
Set in 1870s New York, Age of Innocence follows Newland Archer’s clash between social duty and desire when the unconventional Countess Olenska reenters his life, exposing the strict codes of Wharton’s upper-class world.
Why this book now
Wharton’s portrayal of social performance and private restraint still resonates for readers interested in gender, class, and the theater of respectability.
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Best for readers who...
Good fit if you want...
- you enjoy Wharton’s focus on Gilded Age New York society.
- you appreciate character-driven novels about marriage and moral compromise.
- you want fast-paced plots rather than restrained social scenes.
- you prefer contemporary settings over period etiquette and family obligations.
- You are specifically hunting for the newest framing rather than a backlist perspective.
Decided it fits?
Exact edition: Edition shown · ISBN-13 9781853262104
Worth buying if: you enjoy Wharton’s focus on Gilded Age New York society.
Skip it if: you want fast-paced plots rather than restrained social scenes.
Check Amazon for the current price and availability of this exact edition.
Reader guide
Cues to help you decide faster.
Reading commitment
Light Short sit-downs
At about 256 pages, this Wordsworth Classics edition is a focused, steady read suited to several concentrated sittings or thoughtful, chapter-by-chapter reflection.
What stands out here
This Wordsworth Classics paperback emphasizes accessible text and reliable pagination for study or rereading of Wharton’s canonical novel.
Best way to approach it
Read slowly, attending to dialogue, social rituals, and Wharton’s ironic narration to appreciate the novel’s subtleties and social critique.
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Exact edition: ISBN-13 9781853262104
Check Amazon for the current price and availability of this exact edition.