The Age of Innocence

Set in the 1870s, the novel explores the rigid social structures of New York's upper class through the eyes of Newland Archer, a lawyer engaged to the conventional May Welland. His life takes a turn when the captivating Countess Ellen Olenska arrives, challenging his views on love and societal expectations. Wharton intricately captures the tension between societal obligations and personal desires, making it a poignant examination of romance and conformity in a bygone era. This classic tale reveals the struggles between duty and passion.