The Age of Innocence

«The Age of Innocence» — is a story of a love triangle and, at the same time, a broad picture of New York's high society in the late 1870s. Newland Archer — an ambitious and respectable lawyer, leads an ordinary life, preparing to marry the beautiful May Welland, while deep down he yearns for passion amidst his routine days. But then May's cousin, Countess Ellen Olenska, returns from Europe to New York after a public scandal with her husband. Ellen Olenska is very beautiful, her entire persona is shrouded in secrets, and for the conservative New York society, her behavior and views are unacceptable. Newland is enchanted by Ellen; he falls in love with her... Edith Wharton, the author of more than twenty novels and ten story collections, was the first female writer to receive the Pulitzer Prize in 1921. Such works by Wharton as «The House of Mirth», «Ethan Frome», «The Age of Innocence», «The Fruit of the Tree» are part of the «golden fund» of American literature. The novel «The Age of Innocence» was the basis for the film of the same name by Martin Scorsese, which received acclaim and popularity. The confrontation between the individual and society, the clash of accepted moral standards and sincere deep feelings inevitably lead to tragedy, breaking human destinies. And not everyone has the courage to overcome the obstacles that stand in the way of happiness and defend their love.