The Age of Innocence

Welcome to my The Age of Innocence book summary!

One-Sentence-Summary: Published in 1920 but set in the 1870s, the novel follows a young and engaged lawyer part of the New York high society trying to abide by societal values of the time, although he prefers the company of his fiance’s cousin.

I’ve finished reading The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton.

booboo real-time book rating: ★★★☆☆ (percentage of books with this rating: 34%)

This blog will contain both my summary and review of the book The Age of Innocence.

I wanted to read this book to bring me back in time. Although it’s a work of fiction, my assumption is that it mirrors society at the time. It’s a simple story of a few families social lives in New York City. It seems like social obedience was more strict back then. You respected certain people and families, you respected societal guardrailes moreso. For example, in one discussion between Newland and May, May used the word ‘vulgar’ which should have had the effect of ending the discussion, but Newland continued it and it was written that May was ‘staggered by this’ I think because it broke the normal societal nad conversational rules that were more strictly adhered.

Upon finishing this 300+ page book, my reflection is that it was rather dull. Chapter after chapter, nothing much happened. I can’t say that it had my attention, deciding to read it before bed. I’ve always fantasized about living back then when it was freer, but maybe I’ve changed my mind on that after reading this book. It was actually stuffy and rigid.

Age of Innocence Characters

Newland Archer – books main characters; married to May Welland but with an interest in Ellen Olenska

Ellen Olenska – May’s cousin and Mrs. Manson Mingott’s granddaughter; educated in Europe, married and divorced to a Polish man; return’s to America

May Welland – innocent, thin, and young wife of Newland; very proper and acts in accordance with societal values

Mrs. Manson Mingott – grandmother to May and Ellen; fat and fiery old aristocratic lady with great influence

Henry and Louisa van der Luyden – elderly couple with great social power; keeps to themselves

Mrs. Archer and Janey Archer – mother and sister of Newland; like sisters; love gossip; socially timid

Interesting Quotes Mirroring Modern Society

“Yes: my good father abhorred hurry. But now we live in a constant rush.” (Loc 686)

“..a haunting horror of doing the same thing every day at the same hour besieged his brain.” (Loc 1099) This is a thought Newland Archer has about his law profession.

“You mean, I suppose, that [New York] society here is not as brilliant [as Paris or London society]?” (Loc 1160) Oh, how things have changed in regards to this sentiment of the 1800s!

As I read the book, you will find my in-progress The Age of Innocence review and book summary notes below.

Views on Marriage

“..his marriage becoming what most of the other marriages about him were: a dull association of material and social interests held together by ignorance on the one side and hypocrisy on the other.” (Loc 531)

“And when they had children the vacant corners in both their lives would be filled.” (Loc 2534)

“Their long years together had shown him that it did not so much matter if marriage was a dull duty, as long as it kept the dignity of a duty; lapsing from that, it became a mere battle of ugly appetites.” (Loc 4567)

You are reading my book review and summary by Edith Wharton. Be sure to check out my digital bookshelf for 100+ book summaries.

Opposite Societal Views

In chapter XII, when talking about Countess Olenska wanting to sue her ex-husband for divorce (I think, or it could just be her trying to get an official divorce. It seems like her ex-husband also has paid her, but I’m also unsure (given the age of the book, it’s sometimes hard to follow the conversation), Archer does not recommend it because she will be vilified by the press as ‘people cling to any convention that keep the family together – protects the children’ (Loc 1490).

“He bent and laid his kips on her hands.” (Loc 1521) A male would kiss the top portion of a woman’s hand when leaving, though I’m unsure in which situations this applies.

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Forgotten Words of the Past

Footman – servant whose duties include admitting visitors

Minute-gun – a gun fired at intervals of a minute, especially at a funeral.

Drawing room – a room in a large private house in which guests can be received and entertained.

Grandee – a Spanish or Portuguese nobleman of the highest rank.

Fortnight (n) – period of two weeks. (In Australia, the gyms charge by the fortnight.)

Languid (adj) – disinterest in physical effort

Thanks for visiting and thanks to Edith Wharton for writing The Age of Innocence!
Date Started: Sunday, February 25, 2024

Date Finished: Sunday, May 11, 2025 (441 days)