The Age of Innocence

Set against the opulent backdrop of 1870s New York High Society, Edith Wharton's "The Age of Innocence" intricately examines the clash between personal desire and societal expectation. Through a rich tapestry of detailed characterizations and vivid descriptions, Wharton employs a detached yet incisive narrative style, encapsulating the constraints placed on individuals by rigid social customs. The prose, steeped in irony and structured like a delicate dance, reflects the protagonist Newland Arc ...