History Literature / TheAgeOfInnocence

[[caption-width-right:310:[[Series/TedLasso Isaac McAdoo]]'s [[Recap/TedLassoS1E06TwoAces favorite]].]]

-> '''Newland Archer''': I want--I want somehow to get away with you into a world where words like that--categories like that--won't exist. Where we shall be simply two human beings who love each other, who are the whole of life to each other; and nothing else on earth will matter.
-> '''Ellen Olenska''': Oh, my dear--where is that country? Have you ever been there?

''The Age of Innocence'' is a novel by Creator/EdithWharton. Originally published in 1920, the book won a UsefulNotes/PulitzerPrize in 1921. A member of New York High Society, Wharton had formerly criticized that world extensively in her novel ''The House of Mirth'', yet looking back at that world after UsefulNotes/WorldWarI, she felt compelled to revisit the setting and write something less critical (at least by her standards).

''The Age of Innocence'' is a novel by Edith Wharton. Originally published in 1920, the book won a UsefulNotes/PulitzerPrize in 1921. A member of New York High Society, Wharton had formerly criticized that world extensively in her novel ''The House of Mirth'', yet looking back at that world after UsefulNotes/WorldWarI, she felt compelled to revisit the setting and write something less critical (at least by her standards).

* SettingUpdate: The novel "The Innocents" transports the story to a Jewish community in modern-day London.

* LoveYouAndEverybody: Newland Archer spends the first half of the novel completely oblivious to Ellen's feelings for him because she's just as cordial with him as everyone else. In a non-romantic sense, New York high society takes umbrage with Ellen being equally polite to everyone she meets, rather than showing excessive reverence for approved members of society and cold disapproval or haughty indifference to people deemed unworthy of such kindness.

* ColorCodedForYourConvenience: In the book, the "perfect" May is blonde, while "bad girl" Ellen is brunette, as well as frequently dressed in colors like red or pink. Also, the yellow roses Newland impulsively sends to Ellen--a bright splash of color and a far more romantic flower--than the white lilies he sends to May.

* CoolOldLady: Ellen and May' s grandmother, the only one in New York who not only doesn't shun Ellen for leaving her husband, but practically praises her for it and takes her under her wing, offering to support her financially. She also picks up on Archer' s feelings for Ellen as well as that Ellen is better for him, outright asking him "Why didn't you marry ''her''?", while also gently, but firmly pointing out the impossibility of their situation, "Ellen is still a wife."

** [[spoiler: May' s conversation with Ellen, which she offhandedly mentions. It turns out this is when she told her she was pregnant, explaining Ellen's abrupt decision to return to Europe]].

* WhiteAngloSaxonProtestant: The Archers, Wellands, and other famalies in the novel.

* MistakenForCheating: A very close subversion. Newland and Ellen engage in a very intense emotional affair, but physically, it never goes beyond a few kisses. However, at the going-away dinner that he and May host for Ellen, Newland realizes that everyone present, including May, assumes that the relationship is physical, the one thing that they have either refrained from or been unable to achieve.

* HotterAndSexier: There's a Wild and Wanton edition of ''Literature/TheAgeOfInnocence'' with sex scenes added.

* BlatantLies: Newland claims he has to go to Washington to argue a court case when in truth, he's planning to visit Ellen. However, when Ellen has to come to New York for a family emergency, Newland changes his plans, claiming that the case is postponed as one of the other lawyers told him so. However, May mentions having spoken with the lawyer in question, forcing Newland to fumble and come up with an even lamer excuse. It's painfully obvious--to ''both'' of them--that May not only knows Newland is lying, but the reason for his lie, yet she can't bring herself to confront him.

* HotterAndSexier: There's a Wild and Wanton edition of ''Literature/TheAgeOfInnocence'' with sex scenes added.

* DancesAndBalls: The 1993 film opens with the ball at Beaufort's home.

-->"What has always stuck in my head is the brutality under the manners. People hide what they mean under the surface of language in the subculture I was around when I grew up in Little Italy, when somebody was killed, there was a finality to it. It was usually done by the hands of a friend. And in a funny way, it was almost like ritualistic slaughter, a sacrifice. But New York society in the 1870s didn’t have that. It was so cold-blooded. I don’t know which is preferable."

* DancesAndBalls: The novel and film opens with the ball at Beaufort's home.