Edith Wharton revisits and scrutinizes the New York high society she grew up in in this novel of love, social expectations, and class boundaries. Newland Archer-the central figure in the novel- is torn between a woman who represents tradition (and never questions the social order) and the woman he loves, who challenges the limits of society's tolerance, and seems oblivious in doing so. Throughout the novel, Archer is beseiged by thoughts of following his heart, but is drawn by propiety to never break with tradition. One is reminded of "The House of Mirth", another great work by Wharton, in which the central character's social blunder in the first chapter of the novel results in an irreparable decline into the lower classes.

Not only does Wharton enlighten the reader on the social codes of conduct during "The Age of Innocence", but she also fills the novel with the dress codes, dining codes, and proper codes of etiquette which were so important in the daily lives of the members of New York's high society. This stunning attention to detail really takes the reader to a different time and place, and it's a fascinating journey.

Edith Wharton's The Age of Innocence takes the reader into the fantastic world of New York in the late 1800s. Wharton shows an adept handling of her figurative language as she tells of the elite society in that great city. But more importantly, she draws the reader into the burning love triangle between Newland Archer, his fiancee, May Welland and her cousin, Countess Olenska. These characters each display a certain piece of society; with beautiful, innocent May the ideal society-girl, following all the conventions she had been moulded to follow; with Countess Olenska, the foreign, freedom loving, and sensuous member of one of the highest-ranking families of New York, who broke all the rules and never noticed they had been broken; with Newland Archer, the man who had been raised under the strict hand of society, yet longed to break free, torn between his fiancee and the woman he loved. This novel seduces the reader with its tale of betrayal and forbidden love, and astounds them with the outright hypocrisy that this old New York society displays. If you are someone who loves literary structure, hidden symbolism, and outstanding use of figurative language, this is a must-read novel.

You ever look through old pictures and see an old love? You wonder, just for a moment, whether it was the right thing to let that person go, but then you put the picture away and carry on with the rest of your life. The person you once loved so much lives only in your heart.

The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton is about a man who has to "let go," and I've never read any novel that so sensitively portrays the pain, regret, and also, acceptance, of willingly giving up on love and passion. Newland Archer is a perfectly respectable "gentleman" of Old New York, and is engaged to May Welland, who's pretty, proper, nice, all the things a young lady is expected to be. However, it is clear from the get-go that they are not soulmates, that passion is lacking. Newland becomes intrigued by May's cousin, the "blacksheep" Ellen Olenska who has escaped a bad marriage and is looked upon by Society with fascination, disapproval, and distrust. Inevitably, heartbreak rse

Edith Wharton masterfully constructs New York Society, and also wisely chooses not to stereotype them all as shallow snobs. Ellen's grandmother, the formidable Mrs. Mingott, proves to be more understanding, humane, and kind to Ellen that the younger generation of the Mingott clan. But eventually, the whispers and gossip of Society catch up to Newland and Ellen.

Wharton also chooses not to tip her hand completely to Newland and Ellen. May is conventional and turns out to be quite a schemer, but Wharton makes it clear that she is just trying to preserve what she knows to be a passionless marriage. Society gives her no other choice than to be the Scheming Wife. Her secret heartbreak is hinted in the last chapter, after her death. One wonders whether May herself secretly longed for passion and excitement.

Overall, a wise, funny, devastatingly insightful and finally heartbreaking book. The last chapter is especially moving, as it shows the lingering pain and anguish Newland, Ellen and May suffered even after the "affair" was over.