A review by 5aru
The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton

challenging emotional informative reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Insightfully scathing, yet full of feeling, I can see why this is generally considered one of Wharton's best. Her portrait of society and the characters inhabiting it is intricate and delightfully, impeccably ironic, showcasing her descriptive and introspective ability. The novel as a whole is very clearly a play of contrasts, exposing the contradictions and hypocrisies of American cities at the time while delving deeply on their impact over the lives of the individuals raised within them — and, most particularly, the lives of women.
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