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StoryPDFThe Age of InnocenceEdith Wharton

The Age of Innocence

Edith Wharton

Complete text
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Newland Archer expects to marry May Welland within the familiar world of New York society. The return of her cousin Ellen Olenska introduces a different experience of marriage and independence, unsettling his confidence in the rules that have made his own future appear secure.

34 sections101,844 wordsAbout 7 h 43 min
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About The Age of Innocence

Opera visits, dinners and carefully managed calls give the social order a language of indirection. What remains unsaid can be more binding than an explicit rule. Archer's dissatisfaction unfolds within privileges he continues to enjoy, making his account of freedom worth testing against the risks borne by the women around him.

Reading focus

Read social invitations and polite omissions as decisions that influence what Archer, May and Ellen can do.

This reading edition contains 101,844 words in 34 original sections. Read the text online with adjustable type and three colour themes, or keep a printable PDF.

Author: Edith Wharton. Language: English. Reading edition: 28 October 2026.

Opening excerpt

I.

Read the complete opening section

Contents

All sections
  1. Book I11 min
  2. Book I — II.9 min
  3. Book I — III.11 min
  4. Book I — IV.8 min
  5. Book I — V.13 min
  6. Book I — VI.12 min
  7. Book I — VII.9 min
  8. Book I — VIII.12 min
  9. Book I — IX.18 min
  10. Book I — X.14 min
  11. Book I — XI.12 min
  12. Book I — XII.17 min
  13. Book I — XIII.10 min
  14. Book I — XIV.11 min
  15. Book I — XV.16 min
  16. Book I — XVI.15 min
  17. Book I — XVII.15 min
  18. Book I — XVIII.18 min
  19. Book II17 min
  20. Book II — XX.18 min
  21. Book II — XXI.20 min
  22. Book II — XXII.13 min
  23. Book II — XXIII.15 min
  24. Book II — XXIV.8 min
  25. Book II — XXV.14 min
  26. Book II — XXVI.17 min
  27. Book II — XXVII.11 min
  28. Book II — XXVIII.11 min
  29. Book II — XXIX.11 min
  30. Book II — XXX.15 min
  31. Book II — XXXI.18 min
  32. Book II — XXXII.13 min
  33. Book II — XXXIII.23 min
  34. Book II — XXXIV.25 min

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Is this the complete The Age of Innocence?

This edition contains the complete English literary text, with 34 sections and 101,844 words. This reading edition preserves the checked English text and its section order. No study notes have been added.

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