The Age of Innocence: Authoritative Text, Background and Contexts, Sources, Criticism - Edith Wharton

Contexts constructs the historical foundation for this very historical novel. Many documents are included on the New York Four Hundred, elite social gatherings, archery (the sport for upper-crust daughters), as well as Wharton's manuscript outlines, letters, and related writings. Criticism collects eleven American and British contemporary reviews and nine major essays on The Age of Innocence , including a groundbreaking piece on the two film adaptations of the novel. A Chronology and Selected Bibliography are also included.