The Age of Innocence
The Age of Innocence, published in 1920, won Edith Wharton the Pulitzer Prize and looks back at the New York society of her girlhood in the 1870s. Newland Archer, a young lawyer engaged to the lovely and conventional May Welland, is drawn to her cousin Ellen Olenska, who has returned from Europe after leaving a brutal husband and whose independence scandalizes the clan. Archer sees through the rituals of his world yet cannot break with them, and the novel follows his choice between passion and duty to its quiet, devastating final chapter in Paris. Wharton writes with irony and tenderness about a tribe she knew from the inside and had escaped. It is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, with the first chapter free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about The Age of Innocence
The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read The Age of Innocence online?
Yes. The Age of Innocence opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is The Age of Innocence free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of The Age of Innocence is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is The Age of Innocence in the public domain?
Yes. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read The Age of Innocence?
About 6 h 48 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is The Age of Innocence?
The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton is filed under "Fiction" in the Vinteuil library.
