The Age of Innocence

Set in the elite society of New York during the 1870s, the narrative explores themes of love, social conventions, and personal sacrifice. The story revolves around Newland Archer, who grapples with his feelings for the unconventional Countess Ellen Olenska, challenging the rigid norms of his upper-class world. Wharton's keen observations of societal pressures and the constraints placed on individuals highlight the tension between desire and duty. The novel's critical acclaim culminated in Wharton becoming the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.