014 - Book I Chapter 14

The Age of Innocence follows an upper-class couple on the brink of marriage, whose happiness is jeopardized by the arrival of a woman entangled in scandal. Edith Whartons novel deftly explores the morals and expectations of 1870s New York society, providing a nuanced portrayal that avoids outright condemnation of its social structures. Wharton regarded this work as an apology for her earlier, more critical novel, The House of Mirth. Rich in detail, she illuminates the charms and customs of the upper class, earning her the first Pulitzer Prize awarded to a woman. At age 58, Wharton had lived through the dramatic changes that society underwent by the end of World War I. The title serves as an ironic commentary on the polished facade of New Yorks elite, contrasting it with the darker realities beneath. (Summary by Wikipedia)