THE AGE OF INNOCENCE

In New York City of the 1870s, few are more upper crust than handsome and class-conscious Newland Archer, who is about to be wed to the rich and equally proper May Welland. But then May's European cousin, the beautiful and openly sensual Countess Wolenska, comes into their lives, and Newland must choose--the exciting countess, to whom he is magnetically drawn, or the rather boring May, to whom he is socially committed. Wharton's marvelously written novel is justifiably considered an American masterpiece of satire on the class system, and reader David Horovitch does it proud with his measured pace, his character differentiations, and his own wry take on Wharton's delicious and malicious commentary. T.H. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/MAR 01]