The Age of Innocence

Set in the 1870s, this Pulitzer Prize-winning novel explores the complexities of upper-class New York society through the lens of an engaged couple facing the disruption caused by a scandalous woman. As their impending marriage is threatened, the narrative delves into societal norms and moral dilemmas without outright condemnation. The author, Edith Wharton, presents this work as a more nuanced reflection compared to her earlier, harsher critique in The House of Mirth.