The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton - 1921

No Pulitzer Prize for Fiction was awarded in 1920, but Edith Wharton's The Age of Innocence took home the honor in 1921.  Unlike the previous two winners, Wharton's novel is not set in the present age, but instead, it looks back on a time long gone by the 1920s.  Age of Innocence is the story of New York high society in the 1870s, with its strict rules on marriage and manners and the people who buffet themselves against the rules like butterflies in a net.  Specifically, it is the story of Newland Archer, an upcoming member of the highest echelons of society, which makes him sound almost unpleasant, but he is actually a very decent sort.  Initially Newland thinks he is in love with May Welland, an eminently suitable choice for him socially, and they are engaged to be married the following year.  His love takes a grand detour when May's cousin, Countess Ellen Olenska, arrives in town after separating from her husband.

Initially Newland is concerned that Ellen is going to ruin herself socially and tarnish her family's reputation by divorcing the brutish, though very distant, Count Olenska.  A separation is unfortunate, but a divorce is simply not done, and Newland is deputized to talk her out of it.  He succeeds and proceeds to fall in love with her.  May, who is not as oblivious as she seems, scoots up their wedding date and they marry.  Quite soon, Newland wants out, but poor May is pregnant so he cannot leave. The family closes ranks and Ellen disappears from view.  Skip to after May's death, add a visit to Paris with Newland's now adult son; Paris, where Ellen has been living all this long while.  Can the love affair be rekindled?  Nope, Ellen, refuses to see him.  Son tells Newland that Mom said he could always depend on dear old Dad, because once upon a time, Dad gave up something very important because she needed him.

I'm not a huge fan of this book.  Daniel Day Lewis and Michelle Pfeiffer made the illicit, but chaste, Archer/Olenska movie love affair steam in a way the book simply falls short.  This was a reread for me, and I remember the first time I had great difficulty keeping all the names on the New York Social Register straight.  So many tedious rich people.  It seems to me they would all be much happier if they actually had to do something with their lives besides dress well.

So, how does The Age of Innocence  stack up against its peers?  It's a well written period piece, and  I'm sure it will not be the worst Pulitzer of all time, but for now, it is dead last in all categories.

Most Enjoyable

His Family - Ernest Poole

The Magnificent Ambersons - Booth Tarkington

The Age of Innocence - Edith Wharton

Easy to Read

The Magnificent Ambersons - Booth Tarkington

His Family - Ernest Poole

The Age of Innocence - Edith Wharton

Best Characters

His Family - Ernest Poole

The Magnificent Ambersons - Booth Tarkington

The Age of Innocence - Edith Wharton

 

Best Plot

His Family - Ernest Poole

The Magnificent Ambersons - Booth Tarkington

The Age of Innocence - Edith Wharton