The Age of Innocence - Wharton
It's New York City in the 1870's. A member of one of the leading families is on the verge of announcing his engagement with a young lady from another leading family when he meets someone new. He meets the cousin of his fiance, a woman who is under a cloud of disgrace because of a broken marriage. No matter how much he tries to deny it, he has fallen for her.
The rules of his tribe are certain and strict. His soon to be beloved and his actual love must be treated in certain ways and no matter what he does, society gets in the way. What should he do and what use will it be? That's what this book was about.
This was the Pulitzer winner of 1921. It's interesting as a look at pre-electricity New York. Wharton turns a nice phrase now and again and the book poses interesting questions about marriage and love and what happens when they almost intersect. But, man, I found this book dull. If you get bored hearing about the latest pairings and break-ups in Hollywood, skip this book. Not a bad book, but not nearly a great one either.
I couldn't stop comparing it to 'Gone With the Wind' which won the Pulitzer in 1937 and was a superior book to this in many ways. You still had the conflict of love and marriage but Scarlett O'Hara is a much more interesting protagonist than Newland Archer. Plus you have the more colorful southern society instead of the embalmed New York one. Even at twice the length, it was a more enjoyable ride. If I'd made the original list, I'd swapped these two.
The rules of his tribe are certain and strict. His soon to be beloved and his actual love must be treated in certain ways and no matter what he does, society gets in the way. What should he do and what use will it be? That's what this book was about.
This was the Pulitzer winner of 1921. It's interesting as a look at pre-electricity New York. Wharton turns a nice phrase now and again and the book poses interesting questions about marriage and love and what happens when they almost intersect. But, man, I found this book dull. If you get bored hearing about the latest pairings and break-ups in Hollywood, skip this book. Not a bad book, but not nearly a great one either.
I couldn't stop comparing it to 'Gone With the Wind' which won the Pulitzer in 1937 and was a superior book to this in many ways. You still had the conflict of love and marriage but Scarlett O'Hara is a much more interesting protagonist than Newland Archer. Plus you have the more colorful southern society instead of the embalmed New York one. Even at twice the length, it was a more enjoyable ride. If I'd made the original list, I'd swapped these two.
Comments
I do agree that Scarlett O'Hara is the better heroine, but you understand that Newland's mousy little wife had a bit more moxy than he perhaps supposed.
Yes, I understood that about Newland's wife. She obviously understood more than he gave her credit for. Maybe that's what rang false to me, Newland's inability to really understand people. His wife being a prime example, but also his love interest. Could be that I'm bored by the problems of the rich and famous, too.