Man living a boring life marries as expected. But there is another woman on the scene who fascinates him. Will it work out?

The story takes place among rich Americans. Both that and the author's style are reminiscent of Henry James.

Al amable mundo de convenciones sociales estrictas en el que se mueve, aparentemente sin roces ni contrariedades, la alta sociedad de Nueva York de finales del siglo pasado, regresa de Europa la inquietante condesa Olenska. Independiente, osada, «diferente», Ellen involucrará muy pronto en su misterio a su joven primo Newland Archer y perturbará sin poder evitarlo el encanto de una vida social que ignora de manera voluntaria su inminente fin.

I can't remember when I last enjoyed a novel as much as I did this one. Beautiful setting, intricate plot, admirable prose ... I could go on and on. Yet, despite its opulence and beauty, it is a gilded scene because underneath the so-called reputable veneer, the biting, satirical portrayal of 1870s New York City exists. I also have never read a novel full of such unrequited love and longing. Not even Anna or Madam Bovary and their ill-fated romances come close to this one. To also witness characters so shaped by their society is fascinating yet frustrating. How many times I wanted to lock Newton Archer and Ellen in a room and just say, "Go at it, folks, get your thang on!" SPOILER ALERT: But ... having Newton walk away at the end, knowing Ellen's upstairs, knowing he could now have her, well, the heart just soars and weeps at the same time. ( )

A few days ago I finished The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and though I liked it I didn't love it. It was a well written book with a nice story. I didn't understand the really high rating. I didn't think it was psychologically deep. The Age of Innocence went deep. It was about the role of women in society. It was about how much of yourself do you lose if you try and fit it. I gave both books the same rating because even though Innocence went deep it liked itself too much. ( )

De grande e aveludado anacronismo, The Age of Innocence é um conto orquestrado de anseio romântico. Um romance de época, polido e elegante , embora incompleto, sobre a ¨inocente¨ esposa de um rico novaiorquino apaixonado por outra mulher que, jamais passando do flerte, o envolve em camadas de repressão vitoriana e prende-o entre as emoções do amor-paixão e a ética social burguesa. ( )